ggrutz

We live in a world of ups and downs, but handling the positive aspects tends to come a bit easier than the negative. With the right skill set, however, you can manage negativity when it comes your way.

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Many people complain about poor sleep around the full moon, and now a report offers some of the first convincing scientific evidence to suggest that this really is true. The findings add to evidence that humans -- despite the comforts of our civilized world -- still respond to the geophysical rhythms of the moon, driven by a circalunar clock.

Researchers have developed a novel technique to affect mood through ultrasound vibrations applied to the brain. Their findings could potentially lead to new treatments for psychological and psychiatric disorders.

Physicians and patients who are wary of addiction to pain medication and opioids may soon have a healthier and more natural alternative. A study revealed that a derivative of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a main ingredient of over-the-counter fish oil supplements, can sooth and prevent neuropathic pain caused by injuries to the sensory system.

Cell therapies may stop or reverse the pain and disability of degenerative disc disease and the loss of material between vertebrae, according to scientists.

Smokers who've received a clean bill of health from their doctor may believe cigarettes haven't harmed their lungs. However, researchers have found that even smokers who seem healthy have damaged airway cells, with characteristics similar to cells found in aggressive lung cancer.

Why Do Social Networks Increase Stress? Huffington Post It's hard to remember life before social media. How did we ever know what our distant, high school friends' kids looked like? Or what they cooked their family for dinner? Or the fabulous places they visited on their seemingly-bi-monthly tropical vacations? and more »

There are a few types of Frisbee tosses out there:

1. The Sideways Roller. Even the best frisbee tossers can’t avoid the occasional Sideways Roller. This is when the frisbee hits the ground almost immediately, and then rolls away in a sharp, spinning circle. For some extra points, it’s always fun to chase it around and around and then half-heartedly give up and wait to see where it stops.

2. The Boomerang. Oops, too high, way up in the wind there. Careful though, that thing’s coming back, straight at your throat.

3. The Fancy Fudge Up. After a few tosses, someone might get cocky and attempt a novelty forehand throw or under-the-leg toss. These usually end up flying way off into the distance and then rolling into the sewer. Don’t get too cute out there.

4. The Laser. A classic sharp, shooting toss right at the chest of your partner. They can usually catch it without moving an inch, but might jam a finger or two in the process.

5. The Flying Saucer. And lastly, the highlight of the day, everybody. It’s gotta be that Flying Saucer. A nice, airy toss that just seems to pause in mid-air and slowly hover down into your waiting hands, like a spinning plastic angel from heaven.

AWESOME!

Photos from: here and here

Tis the season for annoying bug bites, but a surprisingly simple remedy exists that can eliminate all of the itch within minutes.

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Relationship problems can keep us awake at night. But new research suggests that sleepless nights also can worsen lovers' fights.

With fewer than a dozen flowering plants out of 300,000 species accounting for 80 percent of humanity's caloric intake, people need to tap unused plants to feed the world in the near future, claims a plant geneticist.

If you're still looking for a Google Reader replacement, time is running out! We have some alternatives, but Feedspot is a new contender that offers a simple webapp for reading the news, sub-feeds for tags, starred items, and favorites, and tons of social features for sharing stories with friends.

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NPR

How Circadian Rhythms Give Vegetables A Healthy Boost 91.5 KIOS-FM Researchers at Rice University conducted lab studies using light-dark cycles to try to coax more beneficial compounds out of fruits and vegetables. Originally published on Thu June 20, 2013 8:17 pm. Listen. Just as we have internal clocks that help regulate ... Maintaining Biological Clock in Fruits, Veggies Increases Nutrients Post-HarvestNature World News Researchers: Light-dark cycles may keep foods fresherabc13.com all 42 news articles »

Ask anyone how long a workday is, and they'll probably say eight hours. How did that become the standard? Is eight hours beneficial for productivity, or should we rethink that number? The team at social sharing app Buffer wanted to find out.

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Los Angeles Times

Silver found to increase effectiveness of antibiotics Los Angeles Times Thousands of years before the discovery of microbes or the invention of antibiotics, silver was used to protect wounds from infection and to preserve food and water. The alluring metal — which was fashioned into a multitude of curative coins, sutures, foils, ... Silver Could Make Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria VulnerableNature World News Silver makes antibiotics thousands of times more effectiveNature.com Silver 'boost to antibiotic success'BBC News Fox News -Scientist -The Hindu all 14 news articles »

The herbal extract of a yellow-flowered mountain plant long used for stress relief was found to increase the lifespan of fruit fly populations by an average of 24 percent, according to researchers.

Whether you're trying to cut down on white flour or sugar, or you're just looking for some creative substitutions for better baking, this guide from our friends at Greatist will help you cut the sugar, wheat, or even the fat from your baked goods if you want to.

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Sleep researchers have identified the sleep mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate emotional memory and found that a popular prescription sleep aid heightens the recollection of and response to negative memories.

New findings provide vital step towards exploring pain medications that may lower risks of prescription drug abuse and side effects of painkillers.

Bacteria in the gut that are under attack by antibiotics have allies no one had anticipated, scientists have found. Gut viruses that usually commandeer the bacteria, it turns out, enable them to survive the antibiotic onslaught, most likely by handing them genes that help them withstand the drug.

Design & Trend

Yoga Boots Brain Power Better Than Running: Study Showed Short-Term ... Design & Trend An ancient practice that has survived generations and the changing times, yoga is known to pack plenty of benefits for those who practice it. Like Us on Facebook. A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found a more ... Yoga Moves Boost Brain PowerLifeGoesStrong Yoga better for your brain than exercise, study findsTelegraph.co.uk Yoga improved brain function better than aerobic exerciseUPI.com Glamour -Runner's World Newswire -Daily Mail all 23 news articles »

Windows: F.lux, one of our favorite apps that manages your devices' color temperature based on time of day, just got a new beta that adds a couple sweet new features.

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Circadian rhythms can boost the body's ability to fight intestinal bacterial infections, researchers have found.

Medical cannabis is often used by sufferers of chronic ailments, including cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder, to combat pain and other symptoms. Now a researcher says that the drug has neuroprotective qualities as well, protecting the brain from long-term cognitive damage in the wake of injury from lack of oxygen, seizures, or toxic drugs.

Bloomberg

Cost questions follow discovery of modified wheat The Seattle Times The discovery of genetically-modified wheat in an Eastern Oregon field has touched off a debate on the economics and safety of altering crop genetics. The Associated Press. Related. Japan suspends some U.S. imports after genetically modified wheat found ... Monsanto shares fall as South Korea joins pause in wheat importsWashington Post US discovery of rogue GMO wheat raises concerns over controlsReuters Wheat Falls as Japan Suspends US Imports on Biotech Crop FindBloomberg Times of India -Wall Street Journal -Businessweek all 393 news articles »

If you're still deciding which vegetables to grow in your garden, this guide from Bottom Line can help. It points out the easy-to-grow vegetables that may save you the most money.

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When static electricity builds up on your clothes, weblog WonderHowTo suggests attaching a safety pin to your skirt or slacks to divert the charge.

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Researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

A new study provides neurobiological evidence for dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying emotion regulation in people with insomnia, which may have implications for the risk relationship between insomnia and depression.

The human gut is loaded with helpful bacteria microbes, yet the immune system seemingly turns a blind eye. Now, researchers know how this friendly truce is kept intact. Innate lymphoid cells directly limit the response by inflammatory T cells to commensal bacteria in the gut of mice. Loss of this ILC function effectively puts the immune system on an extended war footing against the commensal bacteria a condition observed in multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.