Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Since Galileo first observed them through his telescope in the early 1600s, sunspots have fascinated scientists. These dark patches on the Sun's surface can persist for days or even months, but until now, researchers couldn't fully explain why they remained stable for such extended periods. Sunspots are regions where the Sun's magnetic field is strong, comparable to the magnetic field in a hospital MRI machine, but covering an area larger than Earth itself. These magnetic field concentrations appear as dark spots because they're cooler than the surrounding solar surface but in reality, a sunspot at the distance of the Sun but isolated from the rest of the disc would shine brighter than the full Moon! The new analysis by international team of researchers revealed that magnetic forces inside sunspots are perfectly balanced by pressure forces, maintaining strict equilibrium. This delicate balance explains why sunspots can survive for such extended periods on the Sun's turbulent surface.
A new population-based study found that people who walked over 78 minutes a day on average significantly reduced their risk of developing chronic back pain. Walking for more than 100 minutes per day was associated with a 23 per cent lower risk of chronic low back pain, the study revealed. The lower back pain has become an increasingly common ailment in individuals with a sedentary lifestyle, especially office goers who spend their days slumped over computers or in front of screens. Gluteus medius tendinosis, commonly known as "dead butt syndrome," is a disorder marked by a weak or inactive gluteus medius muscle. It is frequently brought on by extended sitting, driving, or excessive screen time. Sluggish glutes can result in other muscles and joints, especially in the lower back and knees, picking up the slack.
For generations, warm soup has been a go-to remedy for people feeling under the weather. It holds a cherished place in many cultures as a comforting treatment for colds and flu. Now, researchers have found scientific evidence on the role of soup in managing acute respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold, influenza and COVID-19. Specifically, levels of IL-6 and TNF-α – two proteins that trigger inflammation – were lower in those who consumed soup during the experiment. This suggests that soup may help calm an overactive immune response, potentially making symptoms less severe and recovery more comfortable.
It's well-known that trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air to create their structure's organic building blocks. Now researchers have found a tree that can turn this greenhouse gas into calcium oxalate, which microbes then convert to calcium carbonate, aka limestone: the same mineral formed by coral reefs. The international research team focused on three species of figs: Ficus wakefieldii, Ficus natalensis, and Ficus glumosa. Among these, Ficus wakefieldii performed best in terms of carbon fixation rates. Calcium carbonate tends to remain trapped in soil much longer than organic carbon, so trees that do this could be important allies in slowing climate change. All three fig species grow in dry South African region.
