Author Archives: Nick Lavars

Pingpong “significantly improves” Parkinson’s symptoms in pilot study

Posted on by

A pilot study has found that regular ping pong sessions may improve symptoms in elderly Parkinson's patients

In calling for sharp hand-eye coordination, alertness and quick reflexes, pingpong (or table tennis to its more serious practitioners) has come to be seen as a useful therapy for a number of ailments, in particular Alzheimer’s, dementia and those associated with the brain. Researchers in Japan have turned their eye to its potential to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, with a six-month preliminary study pointing to significant improvements in the participant’s ability to carry out a variety of everyday tasks.

Continue Reading

Category: Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle

Tags: , ,

Continue reading Pingpong “significantly improves” Parkinson’s symptoms in pilot study→

Stanford scientists turn fossil fuel molecule into pure diamond

Posted on by

Research that investigates the mechanisms behind diamond formation, and uncovers new ways to produce synthetic forms of the unique stone, could mean big things, and not just for the coffers of jewelers around the world. A new type of artificial diamond… Continue reading Stanford scientists turn fossil fuel molecule into pure diamond→

Study finds ride-hailing trips result in 69 percent more CO2 emissions

Posted on by

As ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have surged in popularity in the past decade, so too has the emissions arising from the transportation sector, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The researchers conducted an an… Continue reading Study finds ride-hailing trips result in 69 percent more CO2 emissions→

Air New Zealand plane to moonlight as aerial climate monitor for NASA

Posted on by

NASA and Air New Zealand have entered a first-of-a-kind agreement that will see the carrier equip one of its Q300 aircraft with special receivers to gather data for environmental monitoring. It is hoped this will assist scientists in better understandi… Continue reading Air New Zealand plane to moonlight as aerial climate monitor for NASA→

Smarter robot swarms offer traffic-free blueprint for autonomous cars

Posted on by

One of a number of benefits promised by a future in which cars drive themselves is less congestion, with advanced autonomous vehicles being so adept at navigating the streets that they not only avoid slamming into each other, but keep traffic flowing m… Continue reading Smarter robot swarms offer traffic-free blueprint for autonomous cars→

First direct marsquake data reveals a seismically active Red Planet

Posted on by

The drilling component on NASA’s Mars Insight lander may have hit a snag or two, but this probe has its fingers in a few pies on the surface of the Red Planet. The spacecraft’s primary sensor has now pulled in the first ever direct measurements of seis… Continue reading First direct marsquake data reveals a seismically active Red Planet→

Pocket-sized Axxis axe mounts to a handle to turn into a heavy hitter

Posted on by

A reliable hand knife is a necessary tool for any outdoor adventurer, but there are often times when a little more oomph is needed. Colorado’s Bone Daddy Blade WerX has come up with a multitool that can take on lightweight cutting tasks on its own, but… Continue reading Pocket-sized Axxis axe mounts to a handle to turn into a heavy hitter→

Nearly all coral reefs set for collapse by end of century, study finds

Posted on by

A hotter climate poses a threat to our environment in all kinds of ways, but one ecosystem that is really feeling the brunt of it is the world’s coral reefs. New research suggests these habitats face an uphill battle to survive in the face of warming a… Continue reading Nearly all coral reefs set for collapse by end of century, study finds→

Humans responsible for much higher methane emissions than estimated

Posted on by

It mightn’t get the attention that carbon dioxide does, but methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas that we know to be a powerful contributor to global warming. A new study suggests we may have been severely underestimating how much human activity is… Continue reading Humans responsible for much higher methane emissions than estimated→