Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally. The inability of damaged heart muscle tissue to regenerate makes heart disease difficult to treat, and end-stage heart failure patients have no choice but to join a long list of people waiting for a heart transplant. Researchers from Emory University are working to provide another option for such patients. To do this, the team took their research to the International Space Station (ISS). Insight gained from the space-based research could significantly advance methods to produce cardiac cells for regenerative therapies, helping to transform the landscape of heart disease treatment.
Plastics are known for their durability and strength, making them ideal for everyday use. However, their long-lasting nature becomes a significant environmental issue when they end up in nature. Traditional plastics, made with strong covalent bonds, are difficult to break down and can remain in the environment for decades or even centuries, causing harm to wildlife and humans through microplastics. In an effort to tackle this problem, scientists at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan, have developed a new type of plastic that maintains its strength during use but dissolves quickly in saltwater. Once dissolved, the plastic breaks down into harmless compounds, reducing the environmental impact.
A recent study reveals that just five minutes of eccentric bodyweight exercises daily can enhance mental and physical health. The study investigated how short, bodyweight exercises could improve key health indicators such as handgrip strength, flexibility, and overall strength. Researchers also looked into how these exercises might impact mental health and well-being. The findings suggest that brief sessions of eccentric exercises may offer a practical solution for people who find it challenging to fit longer workout sessions into their busy schedules. This type of exercise is also more accessible to most people, as it makes use of body weight and eliminates the need to go to a gym.
Chewing gum contains long molecules called polymers. Some brands of gum contain natural polymers from tree sap. Others contain synthetic polymers derived from the petroleum industry. These various polymers are similar to plastics – and some actually are plastics. Chewing gum polymers, both natural and synthetic, can release microparticles when they are worn down by chewing, as confirmed by recent studies. The types of plastics found in the gums were polystyrenes (used for things like takeaway food containers), polyethylenes (such as those used to make plastic grocery bags) and polypropylenes (which are used to make, among other things, car bumpers and medicine bottles). The chewing gum study shows how easily we can unwittingly expose ourselves to hundreds of microplastics.
