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Most US men may be unaware of a possible link between dairy consumption and prostate cancer, according to a new survey released during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Only 20% of the men surveyed knew that consuming milk and other dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer. After being informed about the potential risk, 66% said they would be likely to avoid dairy products. The survey, conducted by Morning Consult for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, included 1,102 US men. It also found that only 20% had received information from a healthcare professional about the relationship between diet and prostate cancer risk. “Physicians and other healthcare professionals need more education on the dangers of dairy products and the benefits of a plant-based diet for prostate cancer,” said Noah Praamsma, a dietitian and nutrition education coordinator with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Studies link dairy consumption to prostate cancer riskPrevious studies have found an association between higher consumption of dairy products, including milk and cheese, and a greater risk of prostate cancer. A review of 32 studies found evidence of increased risk among people who consumed larger amounts of dairy products. One study found that people who drank at least one serving of skim or low-fat milk daily had a 19% higher risk of prostate cancer than those who rarely drank it. Another study followed 3,612 men for eight to 10 years. It found that men who consumed the most low-fat dairy products — about three servings a day — were more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer. The survey also found strong support for clearer food labeling. About 76% of respondents said they favored warning labels on dairy products informing consumers about the potential prostate cancer risk. Plant-based diets may offer protectionPraamsma said most men surveyed already understood that fruits, vegetables, grains and beans may help protect against prostate cancer. He said research suggests that a fully plant-based diet may provide the greatest benefits. The Adventist Health Study-2 found that men following a vegan diet had a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer compared with men following nonvegetarian or other vegetarian diets. Plant-based diets may also benefit men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer. A study of more than 2,000 men with the disease found that those who ate the most plant-based foods had a 56% lower risk of the cancer progressing and a 59% lower risk of recurrence than those who consumed the fewest plant foods. Prostate cancer remains a major health concernProstate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men, according to the American Cancer Society's 2024 annual report. The society estimates that 333,830 new prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2026, while 36,320 people are expected to die from the disease. Source: Science Daily

China is aiming to bring about 500 grams of Martian material back to Earth by 2031, potentially beating NASA in the race to return the first samples from Mars, as the US space agency currently has no clear plan or funding to match the timeline. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) plans to launch its Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission around 2028 using two Long March 5 heavy-lift rockets, the workhorse launch vehicle that has already been used for both of China's Chang'e lunar sample-return missions. The rockets are scheduled to lift off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China's southernmost province. The timing is crucial because launch windows to Mars open only once every 26 months. Tianwen-3 is targeting the window from December 2028 to January 2029, leaving little room for delays if China is to achieve its goal of returning samples by 2031. Five-part mission The Tianwen-3 spacecraft will consist of five major components: a lander, an ascender, a service capsule, an orbiter and an Earth reentry module. Finding evidence of life is a key priority of the mission. Hou Zengqian, chief scientist of Tianwen-3, told state-run news agency Xinhua that scientists will examine the returned samples for microbial traces resembling early life on Earth, while also keeping open the possibility of discovering something more unusual. Hou made the remarks on the sidelines of the International Deep Space Exploration Conference, an annual gathering in Hefei organised by China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, also known as the Tiandu Laboratory. The conference drew participants from more than 40 countries this year. Even if the mission finds no signs of life, the samples would still have immense scientific value, Hou said. "Regardless of whether signs of life are found, the returned Martian samples will have irreplaceable scientific value," he said. According to Hou, microscopic, molecular and isotopic analyses of the samples could provide important insights into Mars' geology and help determine whether the planet was ever habitable. The mission's hardware has already entered the prototype development stage. Hou told state broadcaster CCTV that work on the mission is progressing, with teams across China working to address the various technical challenges involved. Landing site under consideration Selecting an appropriate landing site remains another major challenge. China expects to finalise the site by the end of 2026. In preparation, researchers are developing a next-generation geological map covering the entire planet. Potential landing sites are being assessed based on several factors, including geological age, evidence of past water, habitability and the likelihood that geological conditions would preserve possible biosignatures. Bringing Martian material back to Earth will also create a separate and highly complex challenge: ensuring the samples are safely contained. China plans to establish a planetary protection laboratory during the first phase of Hefei's Deep-Space Science City, the flagship campus of the Tiandu Laboratory that is currently under construction. The facility will handle the sterilisation, unsealing and processing of the returned samples, as well as biological risk assessments. Scientists say the laboratory will follow protocols established by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the international scientific body whose planetary protection guidelines serve as the standard for spacefaring nations. The protocols are designed to work in both directions — preventing Earth-based microbes from contaminating Mars while also ensuring that any potentially hazardous material returned from Mars remains safely contained. Source: Agencies 

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Saturday, according to neighboring countries. The launches occurred just one day after the United States, South Korea and Japan completed a joint military exercise that Pyongyang considers a provocation. The missile launches were North Korea’s first in roughly three weeks and came as the country continued demonstrating its military capabilities. The launches followed North Korea’s rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the scale of a major military exercise with South Korea as a gesture aimed at improving relations. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several missiles being fired from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast. Each missile traveled approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) toward the waters off North Korea’s eastern coast. South Korea said it had strengthened its monitoring activities and was coordinating closely with the United States and Japan to assess the launches. South Korea’s presidential National Security Council called on Pyongyang to stop conducting ballistic missile tests, saying such launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. The U.S. Pacific Command said the missiles did not pose an immediate danger to U.S. territory or American allies. It reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to protecting the United States and its partners in the region. Three-Nation Military Exercise EndsThe United States, South Korea and Japan concluded their five-day Freedom Edge military exercise on Friday as planned. According to the U.S. Pacific Command, forces from the three countries trained together in air, maritime and cyber operations to improve their ability to work together and strengthen regional security. The exercise included naval operations, aerial refueling, cyber cooperation and medical-response training. South Korea's military described the drills as defensive and said their purpose was to strengthen the three countries' ability to respond jointly to potential nuclear threats from North Korea. Shortly after the exercise began Monday, North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song Gi condemned it as a provocative act. He warned that Pyongyang would take strong countermeasures in response. Kim Jong Un Calls for Stronger Nuclear DeterrentOn Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the development of a more dependable nuclear deterrent during a ceremony marking the commissioning of the country's second naval destroyer. North Korea has claimed that both of its destroyers are capable of carrying nuclear-capable missiles. The second vessel suffered damage during an unsuccessful launch attempt last year but was put back into service following repairs. Kim has continued expanding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program since diplomatic negotiations with Donald Trump broke down in 2019. Last month, Trump instructed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise with South Korea. He pointed to his positive relationship with Kim, while North Korea has long described the exercise as preparation for an invasion. However, Kim Jong Un’s sister and senior government official, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed Trump's decision. She argued that simply shortening the exercise would not remove what she described as its aggressive and provocative character. North Korea's military subsequently fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, apparently carrying out its earlier warning that it would respond to the U.S.-South Korean military exercise. North Korea Seeks Greater Leverage Experts believe Kim Jong Un may now feel more confident because of the progress of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its stronger relationships with Russia and China. They say this could encourage him to seek greater concessions from Washington if diplomatic negotiations resume. Kim said earlier this year that North Korea could consider returning to negotiations with the United States if Washington abandons what he describes as a hostile policy toward Pyongyang and recognizes North Korea's claimed status as a nuclear-armed state.

The commander and pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which carried astronauts around the moon earlier this year, are stepping down from active spaceflight duties. NASA announced Wednesday that Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will leave the active astronaut corps but continue supporting the agency’s lunar exploration programme as emeritus astronauts. Glover has accepted a leadership position at California Polytechnic State University, his alma mater, while Wiseman’s future plans have not been disclosed. The two astronauts, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency and Christina Koch, flew around the moon in April, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight. Hansen retired from the Canadian Space Agency in July, leaving Koch as the only Artemis II crew member who remains an active astronaut. As emeritus astronauts, Wiseman and Glover will volunteer their time to train and mentor NASA personnel and share their experience with teams preparing for future lunar missions. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the two astronauts had undertaken one of the most demanding missions in human spaceflight and helped return the United States to the lunar environment. “I’m grateful they will continue sharing what they learned,” Isaacman said. Cal Poly said Glover will help develop long-term strategies at the university and encourage students to pursue science and engineering. His new position in San Luis Obispo took effect Sept. 1, the same day he retired from the US Navy. In an interview with The Associated Press, Glover said his decision was not an ending but an opportunity to broaden his work. “This is not a leaving ... for me, this is opening the aperture, not closing it down,” he said. Glover said he also wanted to continue discussing how faith and science have influenced his life. “That’s not NASA’s mission, but I can still help NASA from the sidelines,” he said. Rather than waiting for the opportunity to command a future lunar landing mission, Glover said he chose to move on from spaceflight to focus on young people and spend more time with his wife and four daughters. Three of his daughters are currently studying at Cal Poly, while the eldest has already graduated from the university. Wiseman’s transition from active astronaut status will take effect this month. Selected by NASA in 2009, Wiseman, a retired Navy captain, spent more than five months aboard the International Space Station in 2014 before later serving as the agency’s chief astronaut. Glover graduated from Cal Poly in 1999 and went on to become a Navy test pilot before being selected by NASA as an astronaut in 2013. He served as pilot on NASA’s second SpaceX crew mission, spending nearly six months aboard the International Space Station in 2020 and 2021. Glover drew attention for his reflections during Artemis II’s journey to and from the moon. Looking at Earth from space, he described it as an oasis surrounded by “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe,” where humanity exists as one. “This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” he said. Wiseman also became emotional during the mission when he and his crewmates asked for permission to name one of the moon’s craters after his late wife, Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020. Last month, the Artemis II crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from US President Donald Trump during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Astronomers have directly detected an extremely faint radio signal from hydrogen gas billions of light-years away, marking an important step toward using hydrogen to map the large-scale structure of the Universe. An international research team led by scientists from the University of Manchester and the University of the Western Cape used South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope to detect emissions from neutral hydrogen dating back to a time when the Universe was several billion years younger than it is today. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, demonstrate the potential of hydrogen intensity mapping, a technique that could allow scientists to survey vast regions of space without having to identify individual galaxies. Mapping cosmic hydrogen Neutral hydrogen emits a very weak radio signal known as the 21-centimeter line. As the Universe expands, the signal is stretched to longer wavelengths while traveling through space. Measuring that change enables astronomers to study hydrogen from different periods in cosmic history. Rather than detecting galaxies individually, hydrogen intensity mapping measures the combined radio emission from hydrogen contained in large numbers of galaxies that are too faint or distant to be separately identified. This enables researchers to survey enormous volumes of space and build a three-dimensional picture of how matter is distributed across the Universe. Until now, reliable measurements of hydrogen at such distances generally required radio observations to be combined with information from optical galaxy surveys. The new study is significant because the researchers detected the hydrogen intensity mapping signal using MeerKAT radio data alone. Signal traveled billions of years The team analyzed around 96 hours of MeerKAT observations and detected the signal from two different periods in cosmic history. The radio emissions had traveled roughly four to five billion years before reaching Earth. The observations enabled the researchers to trace hydrogen across distances of several million light-years, comparable to the distance between the Milky Way and its neighboring galaxy, Andromeda. Lead researcher Dr. Sourabh Paul said the direct detection demonstrates that hydrogen intensity mapping is moving closer to becoming a practical tool for cosmological research. The researchers had to carefully remove or account for foreground emissions, human-made radio-frequency interference and instrumental effects to isolate the extremely weak hydrogen signal. Professor Santos, another member of the research team, said the analysis was particularly challenging because of the many forms of contamination that can affect such faint measurements. He noted that the data were collected in 2018, when MeerKAT had only recently begun scientific operations, suggesting that a large amount of existing telescope data could potentially be examined using the same technique. Potential for galaxy studies The researchers said the achievement could provide new opportunities to study neutral hydrogen over cosmological distances and better understand how galaxies formed and evolved. Co-author Dr. Zhaoting Chen said neutral hydrogen is crucial to understanding galaxy formation and evolution. He said intensity mapping allows scientists to study the collective hydrogen signal across large regions of space instead of detecting every galaxy separately, offering a new way to investigate both galaxy evolution and the distribution of matter. The technique could also become increasingly important for future cosmological surveys, including those planned by the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). MeerKAT is serving as a precursor telescope for the SKAO. Professor Laura Wolz of the University of Manchester said the successful extraction of the signal from observations that were not originally designed for hydrogen intensity mapping was particularly encouraging. She said the result highlights the scientific value of MeerKAT data and provides a pathway for future observations with the SKAO. Future observations covering larger areas of the sky for longer periods could allow scientists to create more precise maps of neutral hydrogen. Such surveys may help researchers understand the evolution of galaxies, examine the influence of dark matter on the cosmic web and reconstruct changes in the Universe over billions of years. Source: Science Daily

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an injectable “mini liver” system that could one day help restore some essential functions of a damaged liver without requiring a surgical transplant. In a study involving mice, researchers found that injected liver cells remained alive and functional for at least eight weeks, continuing to produce many of the enzymes and proteins normally made by the liver. The study, published in Cell Biomaterials, was led by MIT postdoctoral researcher Vardhman Kumar, with Sangeeta Bhatia, a professor at MIT and member of its Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, as senior author. The liver performs around 500 essential functions in the body, including regulating blood clotting, removing bacteria from the bloodstream and processing medications. Many of these functions are carried out by specialized cells called hepatocytes. For more than a decade, Bhatia's laboratory has explored ways to restore hepatocyte function without requiring patients to undergo liver transplantation. Earlier approaches involved placing liver cells inside biomaterials such as hydrogels, but those materials had to be surgically implanted. The new technique uses an injectable mixture containing hepatocytes and tiny hydrogel microspheres. The spheres help keep the liver cells together and promote connections with nearby blood vessels. When densely packed, the microspheres allow the mixture to flow like a liquid through a syringe. After injection, however, the material regains a more solid structure, creating a stable environment for the transplanted cells. The researchers also included fibroblast cells, which help support hepatocyte survival and stimulate the growth of new blood vessels around the graft. Using an ultrasound-guided syringe, the team injected the mixture into fatty tissue in the abdomen of mice. Ultrasound can subsequently be used to monitor the graft and determine whether it remains stable. Following injection, the liver cells formed a compact structure and gradually developed connections with newly formed blood vessels. Those vessels supplied nutrients and helped the hepatocytes remain alive and functional. The cells survived throughout the eight-week experiment and continued releasing specialized proteins into the animals' bloodstream, suggesting that the grafts could potentially provide longer-term liver support. Researchers said the mini livers do not necessarily have to be located next to the patient's liver. They could potentially be placed in other areas with adequate space and blood supply, including the spleen or areas near the kidneys. The technology could eventually serve several purposes, including providing an alternative to surgical transplantation or temporarily supporting patients while they wait for a donor organ. “If we think they might need another therapy or more grafts, the barriers to do that are much less with this injectable technology than undergoing another surgery,” Kumar said. The approach would currently likely require patients to take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the transplanted cells. Researchers are exploring ways to overcome that limitation, including developing hepatocytes capable of avoiding immune detection and using the hydrogel microspheres to deliver immunosuppressive drugs directly around the graft. The researchers said further studies will be needed before the technology can be tested in humans. Source: Science Daily

A privately operated spacecraft that was intended to rescue NASA’s aging Swift Observatory succeeded in approaching the troubled telescope and photographing it, even though the rescue mission had been abandoned two weeks earlier. However, the robotic spacecraft, equipped with three mechanical arms, was forced to retreat because it was running low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, the company behind the attempted rescue. “We got so close, but so far,” Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told The Associated Press this week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft came within about 15 kilometers (9 miles) of Swift on Tuesday. During the approach, its instruments collected valuable information about the aging observatory for NASA. Although the rescue attempt had been officially canceled in August because of problems with Link, Katalyst decided to continue the approach as a training exercise for future satellite-maintenance missions. Shortly after being launched toward Swift in July, Link began spinning uncontrollably. Mission controllers eventually managed to reduce the spacecraft’s rotation and regain control, but doing so consumed a significant amount of its limited fuel. As a result, Link no longer had enough fuel to move Swift into a higher and more stable orbit that would have allowed the telescope to continue its scientific work. Lee attributed Link’s difficulties partly to the speed with which the mission had to be developed. The spacecraft was prepared in only nine months, forcing engineers to use available components rather than wait for their preferred equipment. NASA spent $30 million on the rescue attempt, which was designed from the beginning as a fast-paced experimental mission. Both NASA and Katalyst regarded it as an opportunity to test new technology, although they were concerned that a collision could create dangerous clouds of space debris. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said after Sunday's launch of the Roman Space Telescope that the unsuccessful result was disappointing but still provided valuable experience. He argued that NASA should continue pursuing challenging missions because lessons learned from failures can improve future efforts. Isaacman also said extending the operational life of expensive spacecraft is worthwhile when doing so costs less than building replacements. The Roman Space Telescope, for example, was designed to be refueled despite being intended to operate roughly 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth. Lee said Link probably does not have enough fuel for another attempt to approach Swift closely. Nevertheless, the spacecraft can continue testing its three approximately 3-foot (1-meter) robotic arms and gathering useful information before it eventually falls back into Earth's atmosphere and burns up within the coming weeks. Swift was launched in 2004 and still has some time left in orbit, although its remaining lifetime depends partly on solar activity. Strong solar storms in recent years have caused its orbit to decay much faster than anticipated. By Friday, Swift was orbiting about 208 miles (335 kilometers) above Earth, less than half the altitude at which it began studying some of the universe's most powerful explosions. NASA expects Swift to reenter the atmosphere sometime between October and the end of the year. The agency restarted observations with the telescope last week after suspending them earlier this year to preserve its limited power supply. Solar activity has also caused the orbit of the Hubble Space Telescope to gradually decline. Katalyst is working on a newer spacecraft that could eventually raise Hubble into a higher and more durable orbit. Lee noted that Hubble is still expected to remain operational for several more years, meaning that any potential servicing mission is not an immediate necessity. According to Lee, repairing and maintaining aging telescopes and other satellites was once considered a highly specialized idea. He believes, however, that such missions will become increasingly common as space agencies and companies look for ways to extend the useful lives of valuable spacecraft. The report was later corrected to clarify that Link's close approach to Swift occurred on Tuesday rather than the previous weekend, following updated information provided by Katalyst Space Technologies.

Digital technology, artificial intelligence and smart agricultural machinery are transforming farming across northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, one of the country's most important grain-producing regions. For 16 consecutive years, Heilongjiang has ranked first in China in total grain production. Its farming sector is already highly mechanized, with the mechanization rate for plowing, planting and harvesting reaching 99.28 percent. Now, the province is moving toward smarter farming, using AI, drones, remote sensing and advanced machinery to help farmers monitor crops, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions. The shift is part of China's broader efforts to strengthen food security and modernize rural areas. Digital technology changes farming At Beidahuang Information Company in Harbin, a large digital map tracks around 48 million mu, or about 3.2 million hectares, of farmland. The system receives real-time information on soil conditions, crop growth and agricultural machinery. Satellite technology, the Internet of Things and AI are increasingly being used throughout the farming process, from planting to harvesting. Wang Hao, deputy general manager of the company's market operation center, said technology has made it possible to monitor much larger areas in less time. Previously, a farmer could inspect about 200 mu of farmland in a day on foot. With drones and remote sensing, crop conditions across vast areas can now be updated every five days, he said. The data helps farmers make decisions on fertilization, pest control and other farm activities. The company has developed more than 60 digital systems for agricultural management. Its AI model for cold-region crops uses information on soil, weather and crop growth to help create planting plans and recommend appropriate fertilizer use. The company's agricultural service app has also helped improve efficiency and reduce management costs, with online transactions through the platform exceeding 100 billion yuan, or about $14.74 billion. However, Wang said large-scale adoption of smart agriculture still faces challenges, including limited data, differences in local farming conditions and the need to test AI systems in different environments. Smart machines enter the fields Smart agricultural equipment is also becoming increasingly common in Heilongjiang. At one farming base, a four-wheel laser weeding robot moves through crop rows using cameras and sensors to identify weeds. The system then uses lasers to remove the unwanted plants without damaging crops. Li Yongwei, deputy general manager of Harbin Huagong Zhiyun Technology Co., Ltd., said traditional weeding often depends on manual labor or chemicals, both of which can be costly or harmful to the environment. He said the laser technology can remove more than 95 percent of weeds while keeping crop damage below 0.1 percent. It can also reduce weeding costs by up to 70 percent compared with manual work. Agricultural machinery is also becoming more advanced. At Heilongjiang Dewo Technology Development Co., Ltd., electric-drive precision seeders allow farmers to monitor and adjust air pressure and seed spacing in real time through smart terminals. According to the company, the machines can operate about 50 percent faster than traditional mechanical seeders while reducing seed damage. Dewo now accounts for more than 60 percent of China's high-end electric-drive seeder market and has begun exporting its equipment overseas. The company has supplied potato farming machinery to countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Peru and Zimbabwe, while also exporting seeders to the Republic of Korea. Push for intelligent farming Heilongjiang recorded its 22nd consecutive bumper harvest in 2025, producing a record 82 million tonnes of grain. The province also had around 676,000 intelligent agricultural machines, the highest number in China. The provincial government plans to further expand the use of agricultural robots, smart farming equipment and other advanced technologies during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030. Construction also began in August on a national pilot base for AI applications in crop farming, aimed at solving technological challenges and developing AI systems that can be used on a larger scale. The move reflects China's wider push to modernize agriculture through better farmland, improved seeds, advanced machinery and new farming methods. China is also expanding the use of drones, IoT technology and robots in rural areas as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity and support rural development. Hu Jinyou, a professor at China Agricultural University, said relying only on manual labor and traditional farming methods is no longer practical. Although smart agriculture still needs further improvement, he said the deeper integration of AI and farming is an irreversible trend, with a new generation of educated farmers expected to make digital farm management increasingly common.

Simple practices such as mindfulness, gratitude journaling and optimism training may help improve heart health within a few weeks, according to a new review of clinical studies. The research found that positive psychology and mindfulness-based programmes were linked to improvements in blood pressure, inflammation and other risk factors for heart disease. The review, led by Rosalba “Rose” Hernandez, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, examined 18 randomized controlled trials involving people with existing cardiovascular risks, including high blood pressure, heart failure and other health conditions. Most programmes lasted between six and 12 weeks and included weekly sessions along with activities participants practised at home. The interventions were delivered through phone calls, apps, text messages, journaling, group sessions and a combination of in-person and online support. Hernandez said mindfulness-based programmes lasting eight weeks showed improvements in systolic blood pressure and inflammatory markers among people with hypertension and those recovering from acute coronary syndrome. One 12-week digital programme based on spirituality produced one of the largest reductions in blood pressure, lowering systolic blood pressure by 7.6 points, according to the study. The researchers found that programmes involving frequent contact and regular practice were more consistently linked to improvements in heart health. “The therapeutic dose that was most consistently linked with improvements in blood pressure, inflammation and endothelial function was daily practice reinforced by weekly sessions over eight to 12-week periods,” Hernandez said. Some programmes also encouraged participants to adopt healthier lifestyles. An eight-week WhatsApp-based programme, which combined weekly sessions with daily tasks, encouraged people to exercise more, improve their diets and take medicines as prescribed. Another programme using motivational interviewing increased physical activity among heart patients by around 1,800 steps a day and also improved medication adherence. The researchers said mindfulness and positive psychology interventions could become useful additions to long-term heart disease prevention and treatment. However, continued, less intensive support may be needed to help people maintain healthier habits over time. The study, published in the journal Cardiology Clinics, adds to growing evidence suggesting that psychological well-being may play an important role in cardiovascular health. Researchers said optimism, gratitude and other positive emotional experiences have increasingly been linked to better heart health. An earlier study led by Hernandez also found that people with higher levels of optimism tended to have healthier hearts. The findings suggest that caring for mental and behavioural health could play an important role alongside conventional medical treatment in preventing heart disease and improving overall cardiovascular health. Source: Science Daily

Just off the coast of New York’s famous Hamptons beaches, marine researcher Greg Metzger reels in one of the day’s most impressive catches — a young but powerful sand tiger shark. Working quickly, Metzger and another researcher secure the sharp-toothed female shark alongside their boat. They collect tissue samples and attach small tracking devices before releasing it back into the ocean. Metzger said the shark’s tough skin was so strong that it could even damage a surgical-grade scalpel. “It’s no surprise that they’ve survived since prehistoric times and are still going strong,” he said. Metzger and other scientists are catching, tagging and releasing different species of sharks to better understand their populations and movements around Long Island. The research is also helping scientists learn more about one of the world’s few confirmed nurseries for great white sharks, where large numbers of young sharks spend their early years feeding and growing. Other recognised great white shark nursery areas are located off the coasts of California, Mexico and Australia. Metzger, who also teaches marine science at Southampton High School, said researchers hope their work will help change public perceptions of sharks. Many people fear sharks, but he said they are far more complex than the “mindless eating machines” often shown in popular culture. Tracking sharks across thousands of kilometresResearchers use different types of electronic tags to follow the sharks. Some send acoustic signals that can be detected by monitoring stations along the coast, while others record information such as water depth and temperature before eventually detaching from the animal. The tracking data shows that some sharks travel vast distances during the year. Bradley Peterson, a marine scientist at Stony Brook University, said sharks tagged near Long Island have later been detected in waters off North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico before returning north the following year. Many of them appear to travel to Long Island during the warmer months to feed and build up energy. Scientists are also seeing a wider variety of shark species in the area. Frank Quevedo, executive director of the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center, said warmer coastal waters may be encouraging more species normally found farther south to move north during the summer. Researchers have recently observed more spinner sharks, blacktip sharks and bull sharks in the region. However, Metzger said sharks have always been present in Long Island waters. He believes people are simply seeing them more often because of modern technology, including drones and mobile phone cameras. The International Shark Attack File has no record of a fatal shark attack on Long Island, although several people have been bitten in recent years, including one incident this summer. Local authorities have introduced additional safety measures, including drones to spot sharks near beaches. Learning more about young great white sharksScientists are particularly interested in the young great white sharks that use the waters off Long Island as a nursery. According to Quevedo, newborn great whites can already measure about 4 feet (1.2 metres) and weigh up to 80 pounds (36 kilograms). Unlike many animals, they receive no care from their mothers and must survive on their own from birth. The relatively shallow coastal waters provide young sharks with a place to feed on schools of fish while avoiding larger predators, including adult sharks. As they grow, great white sharks move north in search of larger prey, particularly seals along the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. But scientists have observed that warming waters may be encouraging young great whites to move into New England earlier than before, potentially bringing them closer to adult sharks. Research aims to support shark conservationScientists also hope the research will encourage greater efforts to protect sharks. Quevedo said the release of the novel and later film Jaws more than 50 years ago contributed to a rise in recreational shark fishing, including the hunting of great white sharks off the Hamptons. Because great white sharks do not begin reproducing until they are in their 20s or even later, killing younger sharks can have a serious impact on their populations. Conservation efforts in recent decades have helped some shark populations recover, although their numbers are still believed to be far below historical levels. Quevedo said sharks, particularly top predators, play an important role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Protecting them, researchers say, is not only important for the survival of sharks but also for maintaining the balance of the ocean environment.