Parents always use the trick of putting kids into a hammock and swaying it gently to put them to sleep—and it has always been effective. However, if you think you don’t need it now that you are older, you are largely mistaken. New studies reveal the benefits of rocking motion to adults. It does not just aid sleep it also boosts memory. Rocking Motion in Sleep In a study published in Current Biology, researchers investigated the effects of rocking motion to sleep as well as its associated brain waves throughout the night. The study was headed by Laurence Bayer and…
Author: Marie
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The day when mobile phones, laptops, and other gadgets won’t need their batteries anymore is near. Scientists created a new technology that could convert WiFi signals to electricity that could power electronics. The new device called ‘rectenna’ could tap into nearby WiFi signals or other AC electromagnetic waves and supply power to electronics in a large area. Additionally, it is made from flexible and inexpensive materials which can easily be fabricated. The Science Behind the ‘Rectenna’ In a paper published in the journal Nature, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology described how the rectennas work. It uses a flexible…
Cow milk is a common beverage and key ingredient to many recipes. It is rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, and high-quality proteins. But while it is very nutritious, there are just some people who can’t or choose not to drink milk. This can be due to an allergy to dairy products, lactose intolerance or dietary preferences. 1 Coconut Milk Coconut milk is squeezed from the white flesh of brown coconuts. It is very easy to make at home and is sold in the market in pure or diluted/watered versions. Compared to cow’s milk it…
Scientists from the University of Connecticut and University of Toronto created a new type of sensor that could potentially be made to an artificial skin. This can protect and aid the perception of burn victims, or those who are losing their skin sensitivity? However, why do we have to limit it to humane levels if we can create it to have superhuman abilities? Maybe like detecting dangerous conditions or electromagnetic waves. How Important is Our Skin? Skin is the largest organ in the body in terms of size. It covers almost every area in our body. Imagine if we don’t…
You probably heard that it is easier for children to learn a new language. Yes, that’s right. The golden years to learn a foreign language is at 7 or 8 years old. According to experts, children at this age can master a second language easily with fluent language and grammar. However, after this critical period, the ability to learn foreign languages gradually declines. Meanwhile, a recent study reveals the cut-off for obtaining a native-like mastery for another language is at 17.4 years. Are you far above these so-called “golden years” and “cut-off?” No need to despair yet. If you are…
Parents would have to rethink what they should let their babies hear—absolutely no talking nonsense or alien words. A new study reveals babies have an inbuilt ability to pick out from birth. At three days old, even without understanding the meaning, babies were able to pick out individual words from speech. This study sheds new light to language acquisition ability of infants Importance of Word Fragmentation Before they learn to speak, babies absorb language skills from their surroundings. They must identify words from continuous speech. However, there is no obvious marker to pinpoint individual words from long sentences. This becomes…
One of the problems of many parents nowadays is their children’s screen time. Persuading kids to take time off from their gadgets often does not end nicely. But here’s another reason to limit your children’s screen time—it is linked to their future development. In a paper published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found that toddlers 2-3 years old who spend a lot of time staring at screens have poorer performance on their developmental screening tests at 3-5 years old. Critical Stage of Development The development of children unfolds rapidly in the first 5 years of life, which is a…
There are many misconceptions on raising children in a bilingual environment. Although experts have previously explained otherwise, some parents still worry that it may cause speech delays, confusion, and mixing up of the two languages. Here is another inspiration for parents to expose their children to more than one language early. According to a recent study, as early as infancy, it gives an advantage to the early development of their attention. And in the long run, it could give benefits to their cognitive development. In a study published in Developmental Science, researchers at York University investigated how a bilingual environment…
Wearable tech is a very popular trend. There are those which can monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other health biosensors. There are also those which can monitor physical activity and calorie intake to help you stay fit. These gadgets are designed to be smaller; however, they require a lot of energy and thus, a larger battery. Now, wearable tech is taking another leap with this new scientific invention—a fabric that could harness energy from body heat. Thermoelectric Effect To tackle this problem of “heavy and bulky” power sources, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst took advantage of the…
Different people have different merits. Some people have talent in singing. Some people are good at dancing. Some people have high intelligence. Some people are good at speaking and socializing. However, some people just have that ‘special’ poop that can be used to treat diseases. Yes! You read it right. Poop, feces, stool, or whatever you call that certain human waste—can be used to treat intestinal disorders, and maybe even Alzheimer’s and cancer. Feces as Cure in History The use of feces for treating various stomach diseases is not a new concept. Medical literature in China from the fourth century…