Some people go to the beach but eschew going into the water because it’s “gross”. If that’s you, then you are a sucker. According to a new EPA study, playing in the sand more than doubles your chances of getting sick. More »
from Gizmodo
She will receive a follow-up surgery later this month
We’ve seen the plasma beam toothbrush, where a blast of room-temperature plasma destroys plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Now researchers at Drexel University have applied the technology to raw chicken and found that the gentle blue blast of ionized matter effectively removes pathogens on the poultry’s surface.
When raw chicken breasts had a normal amount of pathogens (Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni were the culprits that were tested), the plasma almost completely eliminated them. The technology is still too expensive to fit into the highly streamlined production lines that bring skinless, boneless, sanitized poultry to your table, but — not least because it is equally effective on antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria — the proof of concept is an intriguing one.
The researchers suggest that the treatment could significantly increase the shelf life of raw meat by removing microorganisms responsible for spoilage. They don’t mention, though, the first idea that popped into my mind: delicious chicken sashimi.
from Popular Science – New Technology, Science News, The Future Now
Avocados are amazing things—they’re delicious on their own, but they also have a lot of healthy fats, dietary fibers, and vitamins, and despite their high caloric value, they’re remarkably easy to prepare. If you have an avocado that’s too firm to use for something else, or you’re just in the mood for something new and healthy for breakfast, slice it in half, remove the pit, and carve out a little space in the center. Crack an egg where the pit was, and bake. In a few minutes, you’ll have a delicious, protein and vitamin-packed breakfast treat that’s rich enough to keep you going all morning. More »
from Lifehacker
What’s the News: If you’ve ever been told been that a massage is good for “releasing toxins”—or to sound more scientific, “lactic acid”—from your muscles, then you’ve been told wrong. Turns out muscle cells do like a good massage, but it has nothing to do with lactic acid.
In the first study on the cellular effects of massage post-exercise, researchers found that massage bolsters chemical signals reducing inflammation and promoting repair of muscle cells.
How the Heck:
Strenuous exercise actually tears your muscle fibers; that’s why an intense workout can leave you sore for days. (Don’t worry—it’s normal and it generally heals fine.) The researchers wanted to study how massage affects this muscle damage, so they made 11 healthy young men cycle to the point of exhaustion.
Then, finally, relief! Sort of. One leg on each man was randomly chosen for a 10-minute massage. Unfortunately more pain was then in store for these volunteers. A tissue sample was taken from the quadriceps muscle (often known simply as “quad”) of each leg 10 minutes and 2.5 hours after the massage.
Researchers looked at the level of different mRNA, or messenger RNA, transcripts in these tissue samples. mRNA carries the …
from Discover Magazine
