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Living in places with little road noise may help prevent depression
People who live with constant road noise may be more prone to developing depression, researchers from Germany say. "Although we can't say for sure, it has been thought that noise causes stress and annoyance," said lead researcher Ester Orban, of the Center for Urban Epidemiology at University Read More...
Bitwalking dollars: New digital currency pays people to walk
If the idea of getting fit and helping the environment isn’t motivation enough for you to walk to your next destination, perhaps some money will serve as a better incentive. That’s the idea behind Bitwalking, a digital crypto-currency that is generated by human movement. The Bitwalking app Read More...
Light therapy effective for depression treatment, not just for the winter blues
Up until now, light therapy was considered a treatment option for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called the winter blues. The logic behind this: When the days get darker and shorter, some people need more light. But a surprising new study shows that light therapy is also Read More...
Insomnia can be treated with tai chi and cognitive behavioral therapy
"Sleep is the fuel of life", as Gayle Green, author of the book Insomniac, says. In the book, Green explains how debilitating sleep deprivation can be. Considering millions of people suffer from insomnia, it's about time we find solutions for it. There are sleeping pills, of course, but with all Read More...
Colour-changing dressing 'fights antibiotic resistance'
Scientists have created a medical dressing that changes color when it detects infection. The invention will help cut the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Traditional dressings make it hard for doctors to diagnose infections without removing it. As a result, they often end up prescribing antibiotics Read More...
This company grows ethical diamonds and could lure business away from 'blood diamonds'
It was Leonardo DiCaprio who played a diamond smuggler in the movie Blood Diamond, a 2006 thriller about the violent diamond trade during the Sierra Leone civil war. Now the actor is investing in a startup called Diamond Foundry, which says it can grow real diamonds in just a matter of weeks. Read More...
Mindfulness meditation reduces pain more effectively than placebo, study shows
A new scientific study shows that it is possible to train your mind to feel less pain. To the surprise of the researchers conducting the study, mindfulness meditation reduces pain more effectively than a placebo. Brain scans show that mindfulness meditation produced very different patterns of Read More...
Ride public transport to work rather than drive to improve health
Here's another reason to take public transportation rather than drive your car: It could significantly reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight. A Japanese study shows that people who take the bus or train to work were 44% less likely to be overweight, 34% less likely Read More...
Internet-based therapy is an effective mental health tool, study shows
Online cognitive behavioral therapy can benefit people with depression, anxiety, and emotional distress caused by illness, a new review of studies shows. The benefit arises when the online therapy is combined with some degree of personal care as well. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common type Read More...
"Designer cells" reverse one-year-old's leukemia
Every once in a while we hear of a "miracle" cancer treatment testing successfully on mice in labs only to never hear about it taking the next step in treating humans. Recently however, one of those treatments delivered its intended purpose. In London, one-year-old Layla Richards became the first Read More...