This is the new media of the Beijing Association for Science and Technology
Monthly "Science" Rumor List
In April 2024, the "Science" Rumor List was announced!
Let's take a look at the rumors and the truth
Can crop seeds increase yield and income through "quantum empowerment"?
People with pollen allergies can't enjoy flowers?
Is poplar catkins the culprit of "hay fever"?
Does drinking milk protect the gastric mucosa?
Can red yeast rice health products help lower blood lipids, can they be taken for a long time?
Does Cycling Affect Male Fertility?
1. Can crop seeds increase yield and income through "quantum empowerment"?
Rumors:
After the "quantum empowerment", crop seeds not only grow fast and grow well, but also the taste and taste will be significantly improved.
(Image source: Visual China)
The truth:
Quantum is the smallest unit of various physical quantities such as mass, energy, volume, etc. Although quantum has many special properties, the conditions for these special properties to arise are very harsh. Due to the harsh application environment, quantum devices are extremely expensive. A quantum computer, the state invests at least tens of millions of yuan, and the quantum effect is maintained for a very short time. The so-called use of quantum technology on agricultural seeds or everyday products is simply not possible.
As a cutting-edge technology, the application scenarios of quantum technology have indeed been gradually expanding in recent years, but some companies have "dressed up" quantum technology as a "magic balm" type "mysterious force" that can empower all things, which is obviously a hype and abuse of the concept. The essence of these false propaganda and misleading "consumers", including farmers, is to "cut leeks".
2. People with pollen allergies can't enjoy flowers?
Rumors:
For people with pollen allergies, it is a luxury to go out and enjoy the flowers, because being close to those bright flowers can cause them to be allergic.
(Image source: Visual China)
The truth:
In fact, allergenic pollen mainly comes from trees and weeds such as cypress, willow, Asteraceae, artemisia, mulberry and arboraceae, rather than bright ornamental flowers such as cherry, peach, apricot and plum.
This has to do with the way the plant is pollinated. Ornamental flowers tend to use insects as a medium to spread pollen and are less likely to cause allergic reactions, while unobtrusive trees and grasses often use wind as a medium to disperse large amounts of pollen into the air after flowering. These pollen particles have no honey, no stickiness, are easy to disperse with the wind, and are small in size and light in weight, and can be transported hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away by the wind (such as Artemisia annua in autumn, etc.). Wind flowers have a high pollen yield and a long flowering period, and can survive and disperse in the air for a long time.
These wind-borne pollen particles may cause allergic reactions when they enter people's respiratory tract or come into contact with mucous membranes and skin. It can be seen that wind flowers are the "enemy" of pollen allergies.
3. Is poplar to blame for "hay fever"?
Rumors:
Poplar catkins floating in the spring air are the main culprits of seasonal allergies.
(Image source: Visual China)
The truth:
"Hay fever", also known as seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, is caused by the repeated inhalation of airborne pollen particles by allergic people, and gradually allergic reactions to pollen proteins. When allergies, the skin and mucous membranes are the most prominent, and the most typical manifestations are rhinitis and conjunctivitis, with symptoms such as itchy nose, a series of sneezing, a lot of watery nasal discharge, cough, and even asthma.
Many friends will think that the flying "poplar catkins" are the culprits that cause seasonal allergies, but in fact, "poplar catkins" are very wronged. Because poplars are divided into female and male trees, the "poplar flocculents" we see are actually the seeds of poplars, which are released by the female trees after being pollinated by wind media, and the fruits are ripe and cracked. The allergy is mainly caused by pollen protein, that is, the number of hundreds of millions of pollen particles produced by male trees, but because the pollen cannot be seen or touched, it is not easy for everyone to realize the existence of pollen, so the allergy is wrongly attributed to the visible poplar catkins.
Therefore, half a month before the "poplar catkins" flutter every year, there will be a large number of patients who have already developed symptoms of rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Once diagnosed with "hay fever", the patient needs to take medication in time, do not wait until there is "poplar catkins" before taking medication, so that if the rhinitis is not controlled in time, complications such as sinusitis, pharyngitis, cough, bronchitis, otitis media and other complications may occur......
Although poplar catkins themselves are not allergens, because poplar catkins may be mixed with pollen and dust, it will still cause headaches for some people with allergies.
Therefore, the most important thing to deal with allergies is to avoid allergens. At home, pay attention to closing doors and windows, turning on the purifier, or applying a fresh air purification system. Wear a mask and anti-pollen glasses when you go out. After returning home, change clothes, take a bath, wash your mouth and nose in time to avoid further pollen entering the body. Drugs are used as necessary to prevent the inflammatory cascade from amplifying and to avoid further complications. Desensitization therapy may be considered after the season has passed.
4. Can drinking milk protect the gastric mucosa?
Rumors:
The protein and fat components in milk can reduce gastric acid-induced mucosal damage and protect the gastric mucosa.
(Image source: Visual China)
The truth:
The proteins and fats in milk are broken down by gastric acid and digestive enzymes, and cannot form a sustainable and effective protective film in the stomach. The fat and calcium content in milk are very high, which will stimulate gastric acid secretion and aggravate discomfort.
Because of this, the effect of milk on people with excessive gastric acid secretion is not consistent. For example, some studies have found that drinking milk can relieve heartburn caused by GERD, but others have found that it worsens. Therefore, the effect of drinking milk on the stomach varies greatly from person to person, and it is recommended that you do not blindly follow the trend of drinking milk to nourish the stomach.
5. Can red yeast rice health products help lower blood lipids, can they be taken for a long time?
Rumors:
Health products or drugs containing red yeast rice ingredients can be widely used for a long time, with the main effects of blood circulation and blood stasis, spleen and digestion, lipid reduction and turbidity.
(Image source: Visual China)
The truth:
Recently, a consumer died from taking a health supplement containing red yeast rice from the Japanese company Kobayashi Pharmaceutical. Red yeast rice, also known as red yeast rice, is a medicinal and edible traditional Chinese medicine made from rice fermented under the action of Monascus mold. If the rice used for the production of red yeast rice or the red yeast rice produced is not stored properly, and Aspergillus flavus mildew occurs and deteriorates, the highly toxic substance aflatoxin will be produced, and taking a certain dose can cause liver and kidney damage.
At the same time, red yeast rice contains trace amounts of statins such as lovastatin, and if taken in large quantities for a long time, there may be risks such as kidney damage and rhabdomyolysis. Therefore, health products or medicines with red yeast rice as the main ingredient should be taken correctly under the guidance of a doctor.
If consumers want to buy health care products through overseas cross-border platforms, overseas physical stores or other channels, they must look for the "blue hat" of health food (the sky blue logo for domestic health food, which is in the shape of a hat, commonly known as "blue hat" in the industry). According to Article 76 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, imported health products should be filed with the food and drug supervision and administration department and wear the "blue hat" logo before entering the Chinese market. Therefore, it is necessary to see whether there is a batch number of Guoshijian, and pay attention to whether the product has a trademark, product name, production date, expiration date and other health food standard requirements, etc., and if necessary, you can also check the official website of the State Administration for Market Regulation.
6. Does cycling affect male fertility?
Rumors:
Cycling is a popular form of exercise, but cycling for too long may harm a man's prostate and urinary system and affect male fertility.
(Image source: Visual China)
The truth:
There is no clear evidence that cycling causes male infertility, so there is no need to be overly concerned if you use cycling as a commute or exercise.
Cycling is a good sport, but if you ride for too long or too long a distance, such as riding for several hours in a row, the bicycle saddle (especially the narrow and hard saddle) will compress the man's perineum, causing squeezing and congestion of adjacent parts such as the prostate and urethra, and then there may be perineal soreness and numbness, and urine may be a little laborious, but this is generally a temporary discomfort, and no special treatment is required, and it can recover on its own soon.
In fact, as long as you control the duration and frequency and choose the right saddle, riding is a cost-effective sport, and the benefits far outweigh the risks.
The monthly "science" rumor list is guided by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, the Cyberspace Administration of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, and the Capital Internet Society, and jointly released by the Beijing Science and Technology Reporters and Editors Association and the Beijing regional website joint rumor refutation platform, and is supported by the Science and Technology Reporters and Editors Professional Committee of the China Science Writers Association, the China Evening News Science Editors and Journalists Association, the Shanghai Science and Technology Communication Association, and the Institute of Science and Technology Information of the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology.
The content sources of this issue: CCTV News, China News Network, Beijing Science and Technology News, Xi'an Evening News, Tencent Truth, Today's Rumors, People's Daily Science Popularization, Beijing Daily Client