For coffee lovers who also struggle with high blood pressure, giving up their beloved beverage can feel impossible. However, researchers say those who follow certain guidelines don’t have to give up coffee.
“You don’t necessarily have to completely cut out coffee if you have high blood pressure or are concerned about your blood pressure. The key is moderation,” says Claire Collins, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at the University of Newcastle in the UK.
So, how does coffee affect blood p…

Through his own example, artist-dollmaker Noel Cruz has shown how to transform an unhappy life into a fairy tale and share it with others.
He grew up in a large family that struggled to make ends meet. As a child, he had no toys, and his playtime was spent cleaning other people’s homes. When Noel turned 12, he discovered a passion for painting. This newfound interest was sparked by a beauty pageant he saw on television, which made him think it would be great to learn how to paint portraits. It …

A team of Indian scientists has unveiled a study on the behavior of wild Adélie penguins that suggests the birds may have a degree of self-awareness. Researchers Prabir Ghosh Dasthidar, Azisuddin Khan, and Anindya Sinha published their findings on the bioRxiv preprint server. Previous work has found self-awareness in only a handful of mammals, birds, and fish, and testing self-awareness in animals is much harder than in humans. Scientists often use the mirror test: an animal sees itself in a mir…

Headphones are everywhere. Many people wear them for nearly the entire day.
Advice about using headphones usually focuses on loud sounds damaging hearing.
But beyond sound, something else ends up in our ears. Using headphones — especially in-ear models — blocks the ear canal and brings the skin into contact with dirt or bacteria that live on the device.

How to Protect Your Ears from Headphones
Sound vibrations travel down the ear canal — a few centimeters long and S-shaped — and reach the eard…

A team of researchers from Brigham Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Augusta University (USA) explored the healing properties of cocoa using supplements made from cocoa extract. The researchers found that cocoa bean extract reduces age-related inflammation and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.
This new study builds on previous research that revealed that foods and beverages rich in flavanols significantly decrease mortality from cardiovascular disease.
Praise for Flavanols!…

Alongside mobile TV systems used for sea searches, England has installed stationary cameras. One of these is located at the mouth of the River Clyde and allows continuous observation of local animal and plant life.
Stationary cameras can currently operate at depths up to 1,000 meters. But that’s not the limit. Scientists are already developing a television system that could operate at 5,000 meters, allowing observation of little-known deep-sea creatures.
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