//www.koonmotors.com/news/strange_offbeat/living_well/ Quirky stories about health and wellness, lifestyle issues and trends, family concerns and other topics about everyday life. en-us Thu, 07 Sep 2023 22:55:48 EDT Thu, 07 Sep 2023 22:55:48 EDT 60 //www.koonmotors.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png//www.koonmotors.com/news/strange_offbeat/living_well/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230831121707.htm A soft ball designed to support mental health by 'personifying' breath has been invented by a computer science student. Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:17:07 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230831121707.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230801105016.htm Para-cresol is an aromatic compound with a strong horse stable-like odor. It contributes to the off-flavor of some foods, but it is also detectable as a characteristic odorant in whiskey and tobacco, as well as in the urine of various mammals. A research team has now discovered which odorant receptor humans use to perceive para-cresol. Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:50:16 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230801105016.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230713141947.htm Why do some people take part in genetic studies while others do not? The answer may lie within our genetic makeup. According to a groundbreaking study, people who participate in genetic studies are genetically more likely to do so, leaving detectable 'footprints' in genetics data. This breakthrough equips researchers with the ability to identify and address participation bias, a significant challenge in genetic research. Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:19:47 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230713141947.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710113813.htm A lollipop might be a sweet reward for a kid who's endured a trip to the doctor's office, but now, this candy could make diagnostic testing during a visit less invasive and more enjoyable. Researchers have shown that a lollipop-based saliva collection system can capture bacteria from adults and remain shelf-stable for up to a year. Study participants also preferred the candies over conventional collection systems. Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:38:13 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710113813.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230705154051.htm New research suggests artificial intelligence can match the top 1% of human thinkers on a standard test for creativity. Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:40:51 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230705154051.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230623105504.htm It could be the shopping trip that saves your life: supermarket trolleys are helping to diagnose atrial fibrillation which can then be treated to prevent disabling or fatal strokes. Fri, 23 Jun 2023 10:55:04 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230623105504.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230615183122.htm Numerous visual illusions are caused by limits in the way our eyes and visual neurones work -- rather than more complex psychological processes, new research shows. Thu, 15 Jun 2023 18:31:22 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230615183122.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230518172013.htm An unexpected discovery about temperature feedback has led to new bionic technology that allows amputees to sense the temperature of objects ¬-- both hot and cold -- directly in the phantom hand. The technology opens up new avenues for non-invasive prosthetics. Thu, 18 May 2023 17:20:13 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230518172013.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230503121318.htm ere are some scientific findings worthy of a toast: Researchers have explained why bubbles in Champagne fizz up in a straight line while bubbles in other carbonated drinks, like beer or soda, don’t. Wed, 03 May 2023 12:13:18 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230503121318.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230503085337.htm If you're a fan of arts and crafts, you're likely familiar with the messy, sticky, frustration-inducing nature of liquid glues. But researchers now have a brand-new way to weld squishy stuff together without the need for glue at all. They've demonstrated a universal, 'electroadhesion' technique that can adhere soft materials to each other just by running electricity through them. Wed, 03 May 2023 08:53:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230503085337.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/04/230420135331.htm Marijuana (cannabis) is well known for giving people the 'munchies.' Not only does it make people want to eat more, but it also makes them crave the tastiest, most high-calorie foods. Now a new study shows that well-studied nematode worms (C. elegans) react to those chemicals known as cannabinoids in precisely the same way. Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:53:31 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/04/230420135331.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/04/230420135319.htm Increased insect consumption by humans may be better for both gut health and planetary health. Chitin (kai'tin) and healthy fats from insects appear to contribute to healthy gut microbiota and are strong sources of protein and nutrients, according to a recent paper. Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:53:19 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/04/230420135319.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/03/230321112550.htm Researchers explore how anatomical variations in a speaker's vocal tract affect speech production. Using MRI, the team recorded the shape of the vocal tract for 41 speakers as the subjects produced a series of representative speech sounds. They averaged these shapes to establish a sound-independent model of the vocal tract. Then they used statistical analysis to extract the main variations between speakers. A handful of factors explained nearly 90% of the differences between speakers. Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:25:50 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/03/230321112550.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/03/230309124944.htm Fast gamers are more intelligent: Intelligence can be predicted through virtual reality games. Thu, 09 Mar 2023 12:49:44 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/03/230309124944.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/03/230302073253.htm Scientists have developed biodegradable algae-based hydrogels for strain sensing devices -- such as those used in health monitors worn by runners and hospital patients to track heart rate -- using natural elements like rock salt, water and seaweed, combined with graphene. As well as being more environmentally friendly than polymer-based hydrogels, commonly used in health sensor technology, the graphene algae sensors perform strongly in terms of sensitivity. Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:32:53 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/03/230302073253.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/02/230223132833.htm Sensing a hug from each other via the internet may be a possibility in the near future. A research team recently developed a wireless, soft e-skin that can both detect and deliver the sense of touch, and form a touch network allowing one-to-multiuser interaction. It offers great potential for enhancing the immersion of distance touch communication. Thu, 23 Feb 2023 13:28:33 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/02/230223132833.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/02/230214153905.htm A scientist has developed a formulation of low-fat chocolate that can be printed on a 3D printer in pretty much any shape a person can conceive, including a heart. Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:39:05 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/02/230214153905.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/01/230109112750.htm Students sometimes pull an all-nighter to prepare for an exam. However, research has shown that sleep deprivation is bad for your memory. Now, neuroscientists have discovered that what you learn while being sleep deprived is not necessarily lost, it is just difficult to recall. Together with his team, he has found a way to make this 'hidden knowledge' accessible again. Mon, 09 Jan 2023 11:27:50 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/01/230109112750.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221220165217.htm No matter how egotistical, power hungry or greedy the person is, many of us are still attracted to their dark side -- in part because we suspect some may have a redeeming quality. A recent study found that both adults and children more often reported that villains were inwardly good than that heroes were inwardly bad. Tue, 20 Dec 2022 16:52:17 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221220165217.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221215104536.htm Enhancing the virtual experience with the touch sensation has become a hot topic, but today's haptic devices remain typically bulky and tangled with wires. Researchers have now developed an advanced wireless haptic interface system, called WeTac, worn on the hand, which has soft, ultrathin soft features, and collects personalized tactile sensation data to provide a vivid touch experience in the metaverse. Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:45:36 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221215104536.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221208114727.htm From the excitable sheep dog to the aloof Shiba Inu, and all breeds in between, dogs have unique and diverse behavioral traits. By analyzing DNA samples from over 200 dog breeds along with nearly 50,000 pet-owner surveys, researchers have pinpointed many of the genes associated with the behaviors of specific dog breeds. Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:47:27 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221208114727.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221205163638.htm Experimental physicists growing icicles are closer to understanding why some form with ripples up and down their outsides, while others form with smooth, slick, even surfaces. By growing icicles from water samples with different contaminants like sodium chloride (salt), dextrose (sugar) and fluorescent dye, they discovered that water impurities become entrapped within icicles as they form and subsequently create chevron patterns that contribute to a ripple effect around their circumferences. Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:36:38 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221205163638.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221205104238.htm Up to 78% of walkers would take a more challenging route featuring obstacles such as balancing beams, stepping stones and high steps, research has found. The findings suggest that providing 'Active Landscape' routes in urban areas could help tackle an 'inactivity pandemic' and improve health outcomes. Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:42:38 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221205104238.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221205104150.htm 骗另一个人获得更好的in a financial negotiation might win you more money, but you are likely to end up feeling guilty and less satisfied with the deal than if you had been honest, according to new research. Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:41:50 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/12/221205104150.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/10/221031104454.htm Hair loss is undesirable for many men -- and women -- because one's hairstyle is often closely tied to their self-confidence. And while some people embrace it, others wish they could regrow their lost strands. Now, researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) to predict compounds that could neutralize baldness-causing reactive oxygen species in the scalp. Using the best candidate, they constructed a proof-of-concept microneedle patch and effectively regenerated hair on mice. Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:44:54 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/10/221031104454.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/10/221025090458.htm A small study has found that cats may change their behavior when they hear their owner's voice talking in a tone directed to them, the cats, but not when hearing the voice of a stranger or their owner's voice directed at another person. Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:04:58 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/10/221025090458.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/10/221003132737.htm 你可能没有意识到,但是每次你回忆memory -- like your first time riding a bike or walking into your high school prom -- your brain changes the memory ever so slightly. It's almost like adding a filter, with details being filled in and information being updated or lost with each recall. Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:27:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/10/221003132737.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/09/220929133419.htm The physiological processes associated with an acute psychological stress response produce changes in human breath and sweat that dogs can detect with an accuracy of 93.75%, according to a new study. Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:34:19 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/09/220929133419.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/09/220914141006.htm Researchers have developed low-cost, painless, and bloodless tattoos that can be self-administered and have many applications, from medical alerts to tracking neutered animals to cosmetics. Wed, 14 Sep 2022 14:10:06 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/09/220914141006.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220830131616.htm 过热蒸汽洗碗机可以提供更多effective, environmentally friendly solution than conventional dishwashers. Researchers simulated such a dishwasher, finding that it killed 99% of bacteria on a plate in just 25 seconds. The model of an idealized dishwasher looks like a box with solid sides, a top opening, and a nozzle at the bottom. A plate covered with heat-resistant bacteria is placed directly above the nozzle. Once the plate reaches a certain threshold temperature, the microorganisms are deemed inactivated. Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:16:16 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220830131616.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220824102936.htm People with an obsessive urge to constantly check the news are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, as well as ill health, finds a new study. Wed, 24 Aug 2022 10:29:36 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220824102936.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220812114019.htm Testosterone can foster friendly, prosocial behavior in males, a new animal study finds. The work also revealed how testosterone influences the neural activity of oxytocin cells -- the so-called 'love hormone' associated with social bonding. Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:40:19 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220812114019.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220809141224.htm Banana peels aren't always destined for the trash or compost anymore. They're making their way onto people's plates, replacing pork in 'pulled peel' sandwiches and getting fried up into 'bacon.' And now, researchers show that incorporating banana peel flour into sugar cookie batter makes the treats more healthful. In taste tests, cookies enriched with some banana peel flour were more satisfying than those baked with wheat flour alone. Tue, 09 Aug 2022 14:12:24 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/08/220809141224.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/07/220727141355.htm A new analysis explores relationships between domestic cats' hormone levels, gut microbiomes, and social behaviors, shedding light on how these solitary animals live in high densities. Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:13:55 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/07/220727141355.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/06/220627125010.htm Researchers have found that people may have a tendency to form friendships with individuals who have a similar body odor. The researchers were even able to predict the quality of social interactions between complete strangers by first 'smelling' them with a device known as an electronic nose, or eNose. These findings suggest that the sense of smell may play a larger role in human social interactions than previously thought. Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:50:10 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/06/220627125010.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/05/220527101244.htm Researchers found that music with a groove can enhance executive function and brain activity in relevant brain regions. However, this effect was only observed in individuals who reported that the music elicited a strong groove sensation and who felt more clear-headed after listening. These findings could lead to new strategies for enhancing cognitive function in normal and patient populations, such as accessible and effective exercise programs (enriched exercise). Fri, 27 May 2022 10:12:44 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/05/220527101244.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/05/220519081106.htm Praying mantises have gained recent popularity as pets, sold at animal fairs and pet markets, but also collected in the wild by a fast-growing community of hobbyists and professional marketers. An overview of this market's dynamics reports on both problems and opportunities of the pet mantis market, like the absence of regulations, but also the potential of a stronger collaboration between hobbyists and scientists for biodiversity conservation. Thu, 19 May 2022 08:11:06 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/05/220519081106.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/05/220510151446.htm It is well documented that lying during interviews takes up more cognitive energy than telling the truth. A new study found that investigators who used this finding to their advantage by asking a suspect to carry out an additional, secondary, task while being questioned were more likely to expose lie tellers. The extra brain power needed to concentrate on a secondary task (other than lying) was particularly challenging for lie tellers. Tue, 10 May 2022 15:14:46 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/05/220510151446.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220421181212.htm Researchers have now taught an AI algorithm to model first impressions and accurately predict how people will be perceived based on a photograph of their face. Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:12:12 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220421181212.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220407100956.htm Scientific advances in the 20th and 21st centuries have led to a major evolution in the understanding of death. At the same time, for decades, people who have survived an encounter with death have recalled unexplained lucid episodes involving heightened consciousness and awareness. These have been reported using the popular -- yet scientifically ill-defined -- term 'near-death experiences'. Thu, 07 Apr 2022 10:09:56 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220407100956.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220406160601.htm Cellphone 'selfies' distort facial features, an effect that may be driving an uptick in requests for plastic surgery, researchers show in a new study. The findings highlight an unexpected consequence of social media and the need for plastic surgeons to discuss this phenomenon with their patients. Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:06:01 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220406160601.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220406101734.htm Researchers have developed an e-nose that can distinguish different types of whisky. Wed, 06 Apr 2022 10:17:34 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220406101734.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220404164559.htm What happens when we smell a rose? How does our brain process the essence of its fragrance? Is it like a painting -- a snapshot of the flickering activity of cells -- captured in a moment in time? Or like a symphony, an evolving ensemble of different cells working together to capture the scent? New research suggests that our brain does both. Mon, 04 Apr 2022 16:45:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/04/220404164559.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220324122533.htm Fans of ASMR videos are more sensitive to their surroundings and feelings, a new study has revealed. ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, has swept the internet with millions watching viral clips of whispered voices, delicate hand movements or tapping. Thu, 24 Mar 2022 12:25:33 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220324122533.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220322111338.htm 研究人员已经开发出一种方法发酵拨弦a dough without yeast. The team, which included its very own professional pizza-maker/graduate student, prepared the dough by mixing water, flour, and salt and placing it in a hot autoclave, an industrial device designed to raise temperature and pressure. From there, the process is like the one used to produce carbonation in soda. Gas is dissolved into the dough at high pressure, and bubbles form in the dough as pressure is released during baking. Tue, 22 Mar 2022 11:13:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220322111338.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220315112959.htm Some people are gifted with genes that pack the benefits of slumber into an efficient time window, keeping them peppy on only four or six hours of sleep a night. In addition, the scientists said, these 'elite sleepers' show psychological resilience and resistance to neurodegenerative conditions that may point the way to fending off neurological disease. Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:29:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220315112959.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220310100010.htm Researchers have created a robot with an internal weight that can give the impression of conveying emotions while reading text messages. It can also remind users to not get upset, which may help them cope with unpleasant information. Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:00:10 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220310100010.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220309140929.htm Researchers have developed a huggable, cushion-like device that mechanically simulates breathing, and preliminary evidence suggests it could help reduce students' pre-test anxiety. Wed, 09 Mar 2022 14:09:29 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220309140929.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220308120147.htm Linguistic convergence refers to temporary (and often subtle) shifts in speech to sound more similar to those around us. A new study shows that even our expectations about how other people might speak (rather than the speech itself) is enough to shape our own speech patterns. Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:01:47 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/03/220308120147.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/02/220202143056.htm A study has uncovered new evidence linking higher levels of neuroticism and anxiety with the ability to experience a deeply relaxing sensation known as the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:30:56 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/02/220202143056.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/01/220105111424.htm A new study has found 30 per cent of people prefer to talk about their negative experiences with a virtual reality avatar, rather than a person. Wed, 05 Jan 2022 11:14:24 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/01/220105111424.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/12/211215142101.htm Materials scientists have developed a lightweight material that traps thermal energy when dry, but when the person starts sweating, opens a series of tiny vents to let heat escape and re-closes them to retain heat once they are dry again. Using physics rather than electronics to open the vents, the material has potential as a patch on various types of clothing to help keep the wearer comfortable in a wide range of situations. Wed, 15 Dec 2021 14:21:01 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/12/211215142101.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211130101438.htm Scientists used animated humanoid avatars to study how nonverbal cues influence people's behavior. The research offers insight into the brain mechanisms that drive social and economic decision-making. Tue, 30 Nov 2021 10:14:38 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211130101438.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211129105546.htm In part of a recent human study, it was found that after eating a curry dish containing pepper, piperine -- an alkaloid responsible for the pungency of pepper -- was present in the milk of breastfeeding women. The findings help decipher mechanisms that shape our food preferences from infancy. Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:55:46 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211129105546.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211116201533.htm Researchers studied the physics of a finger snap and determined how friction plays a critical role. Using an intermediate amount of friction, not too high and not too low, a snap of the finger produces the highest rotational accelerations observed in humans, even faster than the arm of a professional baseball pitcher. Tue, 16 Nov 2021 20:15:33 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211116201533.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211116175020.htm Imagine your car starting the moment you get in because it recognizes the jacket you're wearing. Consider the value of a hospital gown that continuously measures and transmits a patient's vital signs. These are just two applications made possible by a new 'body area network'-enabling fabric. Tue, 16 Nov 2021 17:50:20 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211116175020.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211116174747.htm A new study suggests that the brain differentiates very similar environments -- such as two stores from the same supermarket chain -- as if they were even more different than two places that are nothing alike. Tue, 16 Nov 2021 17:47:47 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211116174747.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211111154244.htm Research has revealed a correlation between being particularly proficient in tool use and having good syntactic ability. A new study has now shown that both skills rely on the same neurological resources, which are located in the same brain region. Furthermore, motor training using a tool improves our ability to understand the syntax of complex sentences and -- vice-versa -- syntactic training improves our proficiency in using tools. Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:42:44 EST //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211111154244.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211105084110.htm As the latest Call of Duty video game is released in the UK today, and with Battlefield 2042 and a remastered Grand Theft Auto trilogy to follow later this month, new research finds no evidence that violence increases after a new video game is released. Fri, 05 Nov 2021 08:41:10 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/11/211105084110.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/10/211020135908.htm As the fall chill settles in across the U.S., people are getting out their cozy sweaters and electric blankets, or stocking up on handheld heat packets for extra warmth. But sweaters and blankets are bulky, and heat packs only work for a little while. Now, researchers demonstrate a conductive, durable yarn for lightweight wearable heaters that are re-usable and provide constant, portable warmth. Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:59:08 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/10/211020135908.htm