On May 13 (Monday), the main contents of well-known foreign science websites are as follows:
Nature website (www.nature.com)
Large-scale research reveals that the internet may have improved well-being
A large-scale study spanning 16 years and involving 2.4 million people worldwide found that internet use may boost people's well-being, such as life satisfaction and a sense of purpose, challenging the prevailing belief that internet use has a negative impact on individual well-being.
The findings, recently published in the journal Technology, Mind and Behaviour and led by Andrew Przybylski, a researcher at the University of Oxford's Internet Research Institute, aim to explore the impact of the Internet more comprehensively than previous studies.
Przybiski and his team analysed data from telephone or face-to-face interviews with 1,000 people aged 15 and over in 168 countries between 2006 and 2021 to examine the relationship between internet access and eight indicators of well-being. They controlled for various factors that affect internet use and welfare, such as income, employment status, education level, and health status, in their analysis.
The results of the study showed that people with access to the Internet rated an average of 8% higher than those who did not have access to the Internet in terms of life satisfaction, positive experiences and satisfaction with their social life. Researchers believe that online activities can have a positive impact by helping people learn new things and make friends.
However, the study also found that women aged 15 to 24 who had used the internet in the past week were less satisfied with where they lived than those who did not. Přibiski speculated that this may be because people who feel unwelcome in the community are more inclined to look for solace online. He added that future research needs to further determine whether the link between internet use and well-being is causal or simply correlation.
Science Times website (www.sciencetimes.com)
1. The greatness of motherhood: how being a mother changes the female body
Celebrating Mother's Day is also a good time to discuss the changes in mothers' bodies during pregnancy and how these changes affect them in many ways.
Organ displacement during pregnancy
In order to provide space for the growing fetus, the organs in the pregnant woman's body need to be rearranged. Obstetricians and gynecologists at the Coleman Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Indiana University in the United States note that in addition to uterine dilation, the kidneys, lungs, diaphragm and ribs also undergo changes during pregnancy.
Increased blood volume during pregnancy
During pregnancy, blood volume increases to support the growth of the fetus. Obstetricians and gynecologists point out that it is normal that during this period blood vessels relax and the volume of blood increases, which increases the burden on the heart.
Pregnancy leads to permanent brain reorganization
The so-called "pregnancy brain" phenomenon does exist, and studies have shown that the brain of pregnant women undergoes significant changes. These changes are mainly caused by increased hormones, particularly progesterone and estrogen.
The mother shares cells with the baby
During pregnancy, the mother and fetus actually share everything, including the cells. From the early stages of pregnancy, cells from the fetus can be detected in the mother's blood. These cells also end up in the mother's organs and tissues.
Changes in body composition
Weight gain during pregnancy is normal and expected. In addition, mothers tend to increase fat stores, which helps the fetus grow later in pregnancy.
The "lactation" reflex is triggered
The "lactation" reflex is a series of physiological processes that occur during lactation and involve the production of milk by the mammary glands and the release of milk through the milk ducts and out of the nipple. This process is essential for breastfeeding and the baby's pumping.
2. The largest solar storm in 20 years threatens the Earth's technological system
One of the strongest solar storms in nearly 20 years is approaching Earth. While people are preparing for this spectacular astronomical phenomenon, there are also concerns about the disruption that the storm could bring to power systems and communication networks.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a warning for extremely severe geomagnetic storms (G5) on May 10, the highest level of warning issued since October 2003. This rare astronomical event could have serious implications for Earth's critical infrastructure and technological systems.
The solar storm was triggered by multiple solar coronal mass ejections that affected the Earth over the weekend and posed a significant threat to the global power grid. The Sun's magnetic field and plasma waves will generate a large amount of electromagnetic interference that can interfere with power networks and cause damage to critical infrastructure. In addition, solar storms can also have a severe impact on all Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.
In addition to the potential damage, this solar storm has the potential to produce spectacular auroras across the globe. The effects of solar storms may also be perceived by the biological compasses of animals such as pigeons.
3. The first ultra-high-speed propulsion model shows that warp engines may be possible in the future
For fans of sci-fi movies like Star Trek, the warp engine is a familiar concept. This hypothetical engine is capable of manipulating the structure of space-time, creating a warp bubble in the process, allowing the spacecraft to fly at breakneck speeds. There are even theories that such engines can travel much faster than the speed of light.
In 1994, Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre described the ideal working principle of a warp engine in his book Warp Engine: Hyper-Speed Travel in General Relativity. But this exciting theory also faces significant challenges. The proposed "Akuberi Engine" requires negative energy, which may or may not be present, and may or may also require the use of dark energy, a mysterious force that appears to cause the universe to expand at an accelerated pace.
The latest research suggests that a warp engine may not need external negative energy at all. A team of experts from the University of Alabama at Huntsville in the United States presented a model of a uniform sub-light warp engine that meets all energy conditions.
This model combines traditional and new gravitational techniques to create a warp bubble that can transport objects at extremely high speeds without known physical constraints. It involves the use of a known warp drive solution, such as the Akuberi engine, that closely matches a stable material shell with a displacement vector distribution.
In the published paper, the researchers noted that faster-than-light travel would not be possible despite the proximity of the proposed engine.
Daily Science website (www.sciencedaily.com)
A breakthrough in the study of hemostasis and wound healing
A research team from Chapman University's Fowler School of Engineering in the United States has recently developed a platelet-like particle that can be integrated into the body's blood clotting pathway to effectively stop bleeding. The findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, heralded a major revolution in the practice of trauma care and surgery.
These delicately designed platelet-like particles flow through the bloodstream and target the site of tissue damage. At these sites, they enhance the coagulation process and assist in the subsequent healing process of the wound, addressing some of the unmet clinical needs in wound care and surgical practice.
The study also included rigorous testing in larger invasive animal models, which showed that the intervention was extremely well tolerated across a variety of models.
One of the most critical findings in the study was that the particles could be excreted from the body through the kidneys, a breakthrough in the study of the excretion pathways of injectable synthetic biomaterials. The significant safety profile shown makes this method both safe and effective in trauma and surgery. This development is expected to significantly improve the outcomes and recovery outcomes of patients undergoing these surgeries.
"Scitech Science and Technology Daily" website (https://scitechdaily.com)
1. Scientists have discovered key enzymes: it is expected to breed super "carbon-absorbing" plants
Researchers have recently discovered an important enzyme that may be a hidden element in nature that controls the key process of carbon fixation, which is the foundation of life on Earth.
This discovery will help breed climate-resilient crops that can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere more efficiently, which in turn is expected to increase food production. The findings were carried out by scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Newcastle (UoN) in the United Kingdom and published in the journal Science Advances.
The research team has discovered a new function of an enzyme called carboxybody carbonic anhydrase (CsoSCA) in cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, which greatly improves the ability of microorganisms to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Scientists say this engineered crop, which effectively captures and utilizes carbon dioxide, will significantly increase crop yields and reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation systems, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture.
2. The Craton Mystery: Scientists propose a new theory of continental formation
Cratons are the ancient and massive continental crustal blocks of the Earth, which have stabilized the Earth's continents for billions of years through the movement of the continental blocks, the formation of mountain ranges, and the expansion of the oceans. Scientists at Pennsylvania State University in the United States have now come up with a new theory that explains how the craton was formed about 3 billion years ago, unraveling a long-standing mystery of the Earth's geological history.
The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests that the craton may not have originated in the Earth's oceans. Instead, about 3 billion years ago, fresh rocks on the Earth's surface underwent weathering, triggering a series of geological processes that eventually stabilized the Earth's crust, allowing it to remain stable and undamaged over billions of years of geological change.
Scientists say the findings may represent a new understanding of how potentially habitable terrestrial planets evolved.
The research team also analysed the uranium, thorium, and potassium levels in hundreds of rock samples from the Archean period to assess their radiogenetic thermal productivity, based on which they constructed a thermal model of craton formation. (Liu Chun)
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Editor: Xiang Yanhong