https://nordictimes.com/science/dance-and-yoga-can-reduce-chronic-pain/

Science

Dance and yoga can reduce chronic pain

Published 2 March 2024

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Kajetan Sumila/Unsplash

Girls who practiced dance and yoga experienced less pain than the control group.

A study from Lund University suggests that yoga and dance can reduce functional abdominal pain in girls. The research highlights the importance of social interaction and physical activity in chronic pain management.

The study, published in the European Journal of Pain, involved 113 girls aged nine to 13 with functional abdominal pain. Half of the girls practiced yoga and danced together twice a week for eight months, while the control group continued their normal lives.

Functional abdominal pain is stomach pain without an identifiable physical cause that can be detected by medical tests. It is particularly common in children and adolescents.

– Children with functional abdominal pain often stay home from school, don’t hang out with friends or go to activities. This causes great problems in the family and the parents may find it difficult to work, Elin Areskoug Sandberg, researcher at the Center for Primary Care Research at Lund University and Region Skåne, told popular science magazine Vetenskap & Hälsa.

The results showed that the girls who practiced dance and yoga had less stomach pain than those in the control group.

“May enhance physical perception”

The reason for the reduced stomach pain is unclear, but the researchers believe that it could be about a group community, for example, meeting peers with the same problems, but that the pain was not the focus. The instructors were also trained to keep the training light and fun, and to avoid talking about the girls’ abdominal pain. The girls were also given tools to use when the pain came.

– We know that the more parents ask if the child has stomach pain, the more stomach pain the child will experience. It is better to provide a distraction and encourage activity instead, says Sandberg.

Because of the good results, especially in dance, the researchers felt it would be unethical to let the girls stop exercising at the end of the study.

– Dance may enhance physical perception and the ability to feel and live, says Sandberg.

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https://nordictimes.com/science/researchers-global-genetic-diversity-is-declining-but-the-trend-can-be-reversed/

Science

Researchers: Global genetic diversity is declining – but the trend can be reversed

Biodiversity

Published yesterday 9:37

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Scandinavian Arctic foxes are threatened by inbreeding due to a shrinking gene pool.

A new comprehensive study shows that the genetic diversity of animals and plants is declining worldwide.

The study, which is based on the analysis of over 80 000 scientific articles, indicates that birds and mammals are particularly affected. At the same time, the researchers highlight several conservation measures that can slow down the negative trend.

Genetic diversity plays a key role in enabling animals and plants to adapt to changes in their environment. A wide variety of genes increases the chances that some individuals will develop traits that make them more resistant to drought or high temperatures, for example. These traits can then be passed on to future generations and contribute to the survival of the species.

An international research team, including Uppsala University, Stockholm University and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, has analyzed genetic changes in 628 species over a period of more than 30 years. The study, published in the journal Nature, shows a global decline in genetic variation.

– The study shows that the loss of genetic variation is widespread, which is alarming, but the tools to counteract further loss exist, which is hopeful, says Sara Kurland, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University and one of the researchers behind the study.

Restoring important habitats

The researchers highlight five key actions to preserve genetic diversity. One of them is to add new individuals to populations to counteract genetic depletion. In some cases, it may also be necessary to limit the reproduction of certain individuals to prevent inbreeding.

Protecting and restoring important habitats is another measure that can strengthen the genetic diversity of species. For example, restoring wetlands can help create stable ecosystems where populations can grow and diversify.

Where a species is threatened by disease, competition or predation from other species, controlling these factors can be a solution. The Swedish Arctic fox is an example where recovery is hampered by competition from the red fox.

Restoring wetlands is also considered an important measure. Photo: Abrget47j/CC BY-SA 3.0

Reintroduction of species

The final measure highlighted is the introduction or reintroduction of populations in areas where genetic variation has been lost. This is a controversial approach, but in some cases it can help strengthen genetic diversity and increase the survival of species.

– Overall, the study shows that there are effective conservation methods and data that allow for strategic targeting of actions. But then the genetic component must be considered, says Kurland.

– By incorporating genetic considerations when planning and implementing conservation actions, we can protect biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems to current and future challenges, adds Catherine Grueber, a researcher at the University of Sydney and leader of the study.

Älg — The moose is one of the species being mapped. Photo: Ryan Hagerty

Hoping for more political support

In Sweden, researchers are already using DNA-based indicators to monitor species such as salmon, trout and moose in a collaboration with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

– The work has identified particularly sensitive stocks of these species, but also those where the situation looks good genetically, says Linda Laikre, professor of population genetics at Stockholm University and one of the co-authors of the study.

The researchers hope that the results will lead to concrete measures and increased political support for conservation work.

Editorial Staff
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https://nordictimes.com/science/flat-earthers-after-the-antarctic-expedition-the-earth-is-round/

Science

Flat Earthers after the Antarctic expedition: “The Earth is round”

Published 18 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: facsimile/The Final Experiment

The Final Experiment may have been the final battle between flat earthers and round earthers...

A group of flat-earthers recently traveled to Antarctica to witness the midnight sun and challenge modern flat-earth theories. After watching the sun circulate continuously for 24 hours, several of them now admit that the flat Earth thesis must be reconsidered.

The expedition, led by Reverend Will Duffy of Colorado, brought together four flat-earthers and four believers in a spherical (round) Earth with the common goal of settling once and for all the debate over the shape of the Earth. The trip, called “The Final Experiment”, took place on December 14 and cost each participant about $35,000.

Jeran Campanella, known for his YouTube channel “Jeranism” and former proponent of the flat Earth theory, took part in the expedition. During a live broadcast from Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica, he admitted:

– Sometimes in life you’re wrong. I didn’t believe in a 24-hour sun, but I was wrong.

Flat Earthers have argued, among other things, that Antarctica is actually a wall of ice that surrounds the world and prevents the oceans from overflowing.

They argue that if the Earth were flat, the sun would not be visible 24 hours a day on this continent. The observation of the midnight sun in Antarctica therefore challenges this view, while supporting the theory of a spherical Earth.

Jorden Earth sfärisk — Photo: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/CC BY-NC 2.0

Some skepticism remains

However, despite the convincing evidence, some doubts still remain among flat Earth supporters. Austin Whitsitt, another participant in the expedition, expressed skepticism, saying that the observation does not necessarily prove the roundness of the Earth and stressed the need for further investigation and openness to new data.

The somewhat humorous expedition has attracted attention and debate in both scientific and public circles. From a more serious point of view, many see it as an example of the importance of empirical observations and openness to reconsider one’s beliefs in the light of new evidence.

For those interested in seeing more about the expedition and its results, there is a wealth of video material available on The Final Experiment channel.

Editorial Staff
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https://nordictimes.com/science/researchers-extreme-climate-phenomenon-dates-back-250-million-years/

Science

Researchers: Extreme climate phenomenon dates back 250 million years

Published 16 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo. Fabio Lamanna/iStock

El Niño can cause both floods and extreme droughts.

El Niño causes extreme droughts, floods and forest fires in many parts of the world. However, scientists have shown that this is not a new phenomenon – it was already happening 250 million years ago.

Today, it is popular to link almost all types of noticeable weather and climate anomalies to human influence – and politicians and the media alike often claim that humans are to blame for natural disasters of various kinds.

The exact causes of weather-related phenomena are often difficult to pinpoint. However, even when the continents came together to form the supercontinent Pangea, there were various forms of “extreme weather”, and scientists have discovered that El Niño is much older than previously known.

The ocean phenomenon recurs along with the Southern Oscillation atmospheric phenomenon in the eastern Pacific between approximately every two to seven years. The two phenomena are linked by the common name ENSO (El Niño – Southern Oscillation) and usually last for 9 to 12 months.

The phenomenon affects the temperature, speed and strength of ocean currents and leads to extreme weather in the form of droughts, floods and forest fires, affecting millions of people in places like South America and Australia.

“Long before human history”

Until now, it has been unclear how far back in time the climate phenomenon extends. But in a new study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), an international team of researchers concluded that El Niño and the Southern Oscillation have a history of at least 250 million years.

– Through climate simulations, we found that ENSO has been a leading climate phenomenon long before human history. This was a major discovery for us, says Zhengyao Lu, a physical geography researcher at Lund University who participated in the study.

The research team used a global climate model and calculations of atmospheric and oceanic processes to map the history of ENSO over a period of ten million years. They also found that the weather phenomenon was significantly stronger in several earlier historical periods than today.

– A better understanding of ENSO’s history can give us new insights into how the phenomenon may change in the future. The results suggest that ENSO will continue to be the most significant source of annual climate variability globally, Lu explains.

Could lead to better forecasts

The new study is said to help scientists develop more realistic climate models in the future in terms of topography, greenhouse gas levels, solar radiation and bathymetry. Zhengyao Lu says the research will provide important information for future climate projections.

– Recent and future extreme El Niño events may be driven primarily by anthropogenic climate change. But on a timescale of 250 million years, natural variability and other factors have led to major changes. In any case, understanding how this climate phenomenon behaves in an increasingly warming world is of utmost importance, he concludes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/science/avid-readers-have-distinctive-brains/

Science

Avid readers have distinctive brains

Published 2 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Jacoblund/iStock

It's never too late to train your brain if you want to.

Proficient readers have “distinct features of brain anatomy” that others lack. This is according to phonetician Mikael Roll, who also urges Swedes to train their brains by reading more books.

– Better reading ability is linked to a larger anterior part of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere compared to the right, which makes it easier to understand words and thus to read, he explains.

Data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) shows that the number of Swedes who read for pleasure is steadily declining – last year, one in two men said they read no books at all in their spare time. In 2008 to 2009, 40% of the population over the age of 16 said they read books every week – a proportion that has fallen to 31% in 2021.

Mikael Roll is a researcher in neurolinguistics at the Language and Literature Center at Lund University and has analyzed data from over 1000 participants. He points out that there are two areas in the left hemisphere that are crucial for linguistic abilities, and that the structure of these areas was different in Swedes who were good at reading books.

One region is the anterior temporal lobe, which helps associate and categorize different types of meaningful information.

– To understand the meaning of a word like “leg”, this brain region connects visual, sensory and motor information, he explains.

Need to understand the sounds of language

The second region is called Heschl’s gyrus and is a fold in the upper temporal lobe where the auditory cortex is located.

– Better reading ability is linked to a larger anterior part of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere compared to the right, making it easier to understand words and thus to read.

– Reading is not just a visual skill. To be able to pair letters with speech sounds, we first need to be aware of the speech sounds, which has long been known in research on children’s reading development, Roll continues.

The brain is malleable

A thinner left Herschl’s gyrus has previously been linked to dyslexia, but Roll also made other findings.

– My research shows that this variation in cortex thickness is not just a difference between people with and without dyslexia. It spans the larger population, where a thicker auditory cortex correlates with more proficient reading.

Fortunately, the brain is malleable. Photo: iStock/Halfpoint

He believes that an underlying mechanism may be the presence of more overlapping, interacting neurons that process information in a more coherent way but emphasizes that phonology is a complex skill.

– Clearly, the structure of the brain can tell us a lot about reading ability. However, it is important to note that the brain is malleable – it changes as we learn a new skill or practice an already acquired one, he points out.

“Pick up a good book”

Other researchers at Lund University have previously observed that the thickness of the cerebral cortex in language areas actually increased in young adults who studied language intensively, and similarly, reading is likely to shape the structure of the left Heschl’s gyrus and temporal lobe.

– So if you want to keep your Heschls thick and healthy, pick up a good book and start reading, urges Mikael Roll, who is concerned about what happens if reading becomes less and less of a priority.

– Our ability to interpret the world around us and understand the thoughts of others would certainly diminish. In other words, that cozy moment on the couch with a book is not just good for you – but for humanity, he concludes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Polaris of Enlightenment

Polaris of Enlightenment