PatientsLikeMe, an Internet start-up, creates information-rich communities for the chronically ill. Is it the next step forward in medical science — or just a MySpace for the afflicted?
Archive for the ‘Science’ Category
Practicing Patients
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
Posted in Health, Networking, Science, Technology, Web 2.0 | Leave a Comment »
Yes, Running Can Make You High
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
Maybe I need to re-consider running as an exercise option. Just wish it were not so hard on my knees.
That blissful mood after an intense workout is no coincidence, a study shows.
Posted in Health, Research, Science | Leave a Comment »
Pitching With Purpose
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
Fake it ’til you make it!
It’s easiest to change the mind by changing behavior, and that’s probably as true in the office as on the pitching mound.
Posted in Learning, Science, Sports | Leave a Comment »
Escape from Time
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 19, 2008
I caught part of a fascinating story on public radio last weekend. It was all about time — whether it exists, whether it’s just a construct of the human brain, and so on. Since I didn’t get to hear the whole thing, I searched for a link to the recording and finally found it. Here it is — I recommend it!
Posted in Human Interest, Science | Leave a Comment »
Neuroscience and Willpower
Posted by Ted Hopton on April 6, 2008
I highly recommend this article, “Tighten Your Belt, Strengthen Your Mind.” It really got me thinking, since I struggle with willpower issues daily and it offers new insight on the subject. (For more, see also, “How to Boost Your Willpower,” in the NYT Health blog.)
The brain has a limited capacity for self-regulation, so exerting willpower in one area often leads to backsliding in others.
Ah, that could explain quite a few things!
The brain’s store of willpower is depleted when people control their thoughts, feelings or impulses, or when they modify their behavior in pursuit of goals. Psychologist Roy Baumeister and others have found that people who successfully accomplish one task requiring self-control are less persistent on a second, seemingly unrelated task.
The starting point for the article is that as the economy tanks and people have to cut back on spending, they may gain weight at the same time, Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Health, Human Interest, Research, Science | Tagged: budget, habits, neuroscience, Research, Science, weight, willpower | 2 Comments »
Costa Rica Journal: Freaky Fireflies
Posted by Ted Hopton on February 29, 2008
On our first night in La Danta Salvaje, the rain forest preserve in Costa Rica, we were fascinated by the exotic fireflies that came by our outdoor kitchen/dining area as we relaxed sipping hot chocolate and rum after a wonderful meal. At first, they seemed to be ordinary fireflies such as we encounter in North America — nothing much remark upon, except that they seemed to be rather larger.
But when one landed on the table, I was startled to see two glowing “eyes” on the top of it — never saw anything like that when I was growing up in New Jersey! The little bug flew off before I could catch it, and as I watched it flitting around, it was eerie to see those tiny glowing eyes zig-zagging through the dark. Sometimes the abdomen would glow, too, like a regular firefly but brighter, and sometimes just the pair of eyes would be circling about.
Here’s a video that lets you see what these glowing click beetles look like when they fly about at night.
David, our host and guide, took a log from the fire and stood at the edge of the railing waving it so the embers glowed and sent off orange sparks in the night. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Costa Rica, Health, Science, Travel | Tagged: bioluminescence, Costa Rica, insects, La Danta Salvaje, mosquitos, Outdoors, preserve, rain forest | Leave a Comment »
Good Thing I Kicked Diet Coke
Posted by Ted Hopton on February 23, 2008
I’m thinking it’s a good thing I kicked my fixation on drinking Caffeine-Free Diet Coke. I used to drink at least one can of it a day, in part just for something to break up the afternoon while I worked. Then I bought a mini coffee maker and started making decaf coffee, instead, and my consumption of diet soda dropped way down. I hardly ever have it anymore.
So, the news widely reported about diet sodas significantly increasing one’s health risks was disturbing, but at least I’ve already taken steps to avoid it: “Symptoms: Metabolic Syndrome Is Tied to Diet Soda.”
Researchers have found a correlation between drinking diet soda and metabolic syndrome — the collection of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes that include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and elevated blood pressure.
Not a good thing, for sure. And by “significant” increase in risk, we’re not talking scientific mumbo-jumbo, but big numbers that anyone can grasp: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Health, Research, Science | Tagged: diet soda, Health, metabolic syndrome, Research, Science | Leave a Comment »
Muscle Fatigue? Blame Calcium Leaks
Posted by Ted Hopton on February 12, 2008
Sometimes the “science” stories in mainstream media just re-hash old news, re-packaging it in ways that non-scientists can more readily appreciate. And I, for one, do appreciate that and like learning in this way.
But here’s an article that is new news: “Finding May Solve Riddle of Fatigue in Muscles.” Personally, I didn’t even know this was a riddle. I thought it was well understood that lactic acid causes the pain in tired muscles. Turns out I am at least six months behind the times on that one:
For decades, muscle fatigue had been largely ignored or misunderstood. Leading physiology textbooks did not even try to offer a mechanism, said Dr. Andrew Marks, principal investigator of the new study. A popular theory, that muscles become tired because they release lactic acid, was discredited not long ago.
Instead, here’s the latest theory: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Health, Research, Science, Sports | Tagged: calcium leaking, lactic acid, muscle fatigue, Research, Science, Sports | Leave a Comment »
Flattering? Yes. Sincere? Not Necessarily.
Posted by Ted Hopton on February 12, 2008
I find science news stories fascinating, and there’s one in the NYT that explains research that’s been done on a rather commonly known phenomenon, but digs into how it works: “You Remind Me of Me.” We’ve all heard before that people tend to like other people who are similar to themselves. It may even seem obvious why (we’re all narcissistic to some degree).
But what kind of cues or behavior make us feel this way? And how do these feelings affect what we think and do? It turns out the researchers found that it can be pretty superficial stuff that gets us to “identify” with someone else. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Health, Human Interest, Research, Sales, Science | Tagged: flattery, human behavior, imitation, mimic, Research, Sales, Science | 1 Comment »
Biofuels Power Up Global Warming
Posted by Ted Hopton on February 8, 2008
What is this, Depressing Scientific Reports Day? A billion people are going to die from smoking and now I read in the NYT that the gung-ho drive toward biofuels is doing more harm than good, according to two scientific studies: “Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat.” Where’s a rock to crawl under?
Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fuels are taken into account, two studies being published Thursday have concluded.
Well, we darn well better take into account the full impact of producing any fuel. One of the studies’ authors refers to the prior failure to do this as an “accounting error.” That sounds harmless, but it’s not. It’s one heck of an error: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Environment, Research, Science | Leave a Comment »
