Fact Check Archives - Page 5 of 5

Dec272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Approves Construction of World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra, Sparking Concerns in India and Bangladesh

Breaking News, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

China has greenlit the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border, raising geopolitical and environmental concerns in downstream nations India and Bangladesh. With an estimated cost of $137 billion, the project will surpass all other infrastructure projects globally, including China’s Three Gorges Dam. The hydropower project, part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, will be built along the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. Located at a massive gorge where the river takes a U-turn into Arunachal Pradesh, the dam will exploit a vertical drop of 2,000 meters over a 50 km stretch to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 300 million people. ...

Dec262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Does Yoga Really Hold the Secret to Longevity? A Closer Look

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

Yoga with its centuries-old roots is widely praised for its health benefits. But could it also be the secret to a long life? Centenarian Daisy Taylor of Chelmsford, England, believes so. On her 105th birthday, Taylor credited her enduring physical and mental health to yoga, optimism, and cherishing life's simple joys. Remarkably, Taylor still practices yoga, though now more often from a chair than a mat. Her story echoes those of other notable yoga practitioners, like B.K.S. Iyengar, who lived to 95 despite severe childhood illnesses, and Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, the founder of vinyasa yoga, who reached 100. These anecdotes suggest a connection between yoga and longevity but what does science say? Yoga’s Role in Ageing and Longevity Physical and Mental Health Benefits Yoga ha...

Dec262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Does Acetaminophen Influence Risk-Taking Behavior? New Study Says It Might

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Acetaminophen, one of the most commonly used pain relievers worldwide, may do more than ease headaches it could also impact how people perceive risks. A 2020 study from The Ohio State University suggests that this popular over-the-counter drug might lower risk awareness and increase risk-taking behavior. "Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotion when they consider risky activities they just don't feel as scared," explains neuroscientist Baldwin Way, the study's lead author. Given that nearly 25% of Americans take acetaminophen weekly, these findings could have broader implications for decision-making and risk perception in everyday life. In a series of experiments, researchers tested the effects of a 1,000 mg dose of acetaminophen the maximum recommended singl...

Dec182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Staying Hydrated New Study Highlights Health Benefits of Drinking More Water

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

Drinking plenty of water has always been considered essential for good health, but a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), sheds new light on the specific advantages it provides. By analyzing 18 previous studies, the research emphasizes the broad health benefits associated with increased water consumption. Key Findings Among the studies reviewed, researchers found significant health benefits in drinking more water, including: Reducing the risk of kidney stones Supporting weight loss Preventing urinary tract infections Managing migraines Improving blood sugar control in diabetes Regulating low blood pressure Not all the studies offered conclusive evidence of causal relationships, but the trends suggest that ...

Dec122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Antarctic ‘Plastisphere’ A New Ecosystem with Hidden Dangers Surprisingly

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Antarctica, often considered the last pristine frontier, is no longer untouched by human activity and its environmental consequences. Plastic pollution, a hallmark of human impact, has given rise to a unique ecological phenomenon: the plastisphere—microbial communities colonizing plastic debris in the ocean. While offering intriguing scientific insights, this ecosystem poses significant threats to marine life and global ecological balance. When plastic enters the ocean, it provides surfaces for microbial communities to colonize rapidly, forming biofilms. This collection of organisms known as the plastisphere evolves through ecological succession into a complex network of microbes. These communities can carry harmful pathogens, such as Vibrio spp. and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, sprea...

Nov212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

The Hidden Danger of Asbestos in Everyday Products

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

Asbestos widely used for its heat resistance and durability, has a dark legacy as a carcinogen responsible for mesothelioma, an aggressive and incurable cancer. Its use spanned diverse applications, from construction materials to the fake snow in classic films like The Wizard of Oz and White Christmas. Despite its hazards, asbestos wasn't banned in the UK until 1999, decades after its dangers were established. Today, concerns about asbestos persist not in construction but in cosmetics. Investigations have revealed traces of asbestos in some talc-based products, raising fresh alarms about its hidden risks in everyday items. How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma Asbestos is a group of six fibrous minerals, including chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos), that can fr...

Oct232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tibetan Plateau How High Altitude Adaptations Help People Thrive in Low Oxygen Conditions

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check

A recent study reveals that Tibetan communities have evolved unique physiological adaptations over more than 10,000 years, enabling them to survive and flourish in the harsh, oxygen-poor environment of the Tibetan Plateau. This discovery highlights how human evolution continues to respond to challenging living conditions. The research, led by Cynthia Beall, University Professor Emerita at Case Western Reserve University, was published on October 21 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It explores how Tibetan women have evolved to improve their reproductive success despite the low oxygen levels at high altitudes, a condition known as hypoxia, which affects most people living at such elevations. “Adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia is fascinating because the s...