Research

It's no secret that exercising may increase your life, but questions remain over exactly what type of exercise -- as well as the duration and intensity -- is needed to get those benefits. The answer is surprising, at least according to a new study that found any level of exercise may slash early death risk. On the flip side, however, the study also warns that sitting for several hours a day is significantly linked to mortality.

Continue Reading

As it turns out, owning a pet may increase your overall health, particularly if it is a dog. The findings come from a study that looked at pet owners located in the Czech Republic, ones who had no history of heart disease when first evaluated in early 2013. In their most recent evaluation of these participants, researchers noted that owning dogs seems to be linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk.

Continue Reading

Fried foods are tasty but notoriously unhealthy. Most health-related criticisms of these particular food products revolve around the use of unhealthy fats and excessive calories, but a number of studies have found that frying oil -- particularly oil that has been heated and cooled repeatedly -- may be linked to the development of cancer. A new study out of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst builds on that, finding that it may fuel pre-existing IBD and colon cancer.

Continue Reading

The bad news about vaping continues to roll in with a new study from the University of North Carolina Health Care, where researchers identified changes in the lungs of vapers that mirror those seen in the lungs of smokers. These changes, according to the study, pave the way for the development of a lung disease called emphysema in people who smoke traditional cigarettes.

Continue Reading

Scientists at Northeastern University have created a wearable device that claims to be able to predict aggressive outbursts from autistic people a minute before the outburst happens. The wearable device is designed to alert caretakers when stress levels are nearing the point where an aggressive episode could happen. The device was created by a behavioral scientist called Matthew Goodwin.

Continue Reading

The human body contains small amounts of a type of adipose tissue called 'brown fat' that, unlike its white fat counterpart, generates heat and burns calories. Past research has found evidence that higher levels of brown fat are linked to improved health, including lowered obesity and diabetes risk. In a new study, researchers reveal how brown fat helps protect health in this way and it involves essential amino acids.

Continue Reading

A new study has linked dirt and air pollution to multiple neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as an increased risk of developing personality disorders. The link was first identified using environmental data from the US, but was profound enough that researchers double-checked their work by looking for similar links using data from Denmark. The association remained for the second country, as well.

Continue Reading

Researchers with Cornell University have developed a low-fat, low-calorie alternative to butter, one that is made primarily from water. Though butter alternatives already exist, they often either feature similar calorie counts or unappealing textures, leaving users without a suitable diet-safe option. That may change in the future thanks to this new butter-like spread.

Continue Reading

Scientists are studying Mars intently and know that in its distant past, the planet had water. The question the scientists want to answer is was the water that was present on the Red Planted frozen in ice, or was it liquid and flowing. Warm conditions would make life more likely.

Continue Reading

Scientists are working to explore the oceans around the globe and to enable that MIT has invented a new type of sensor. These sensors will allow scientists to deploy the sensor arrays around the world without worrying about the sensors going offline because of a depleted battery. The sensors are described as using near-zero power to transmit sensor data.

Continue Reading

Electronic cigarettes have been linked to a number of potential health issues, the most concerning being dozens of cases of a serious lung condition in young adults and teenagers who reported vape use. There's a belief among some people who vape that using nicotine-free liquids makes the habit safer, but a new study indicates that's not the case -- and, in fact, a single instance of nicotine-free vape use may have a serious impact on the body's blood vessels.

Continue Reading

A new study out of the George Institute for Global Health has identified the countries with the best foods and beverages; the conclusion is based on an analysis of more than 400,000 products across a dozen global territories and countries. The team of researchers looked at multiple aspects of the products, ranking them on the basis of things like saturated fat content, sugar levels, and more. The top countries are surprising.

Continue Reading