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Legs of grasshoppers and crabs have ideal shape to resist bending and compression

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have recently shown that the legs of grasshoppers and crabs have the ideal shape to resist bending and compression. If human leg bones were built the same way, they could be twice as strong.

13 Sep 2012

Drugs to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia may increase risk of driving accident

Drugs prescribed to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia may increase patients’ risk of being involved in motor vehicle accidents, according to a recent study, published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Based on the findings, the researchers suggested doctors should consider advising patients not to drive while taking these drugs.

13 Sep 2012

First study to report on vitamin D levels in large groups of critically ill children

Vitamin D is increasingly being recognized as important for good health. Vitamin D is a hormone made in the skin following sun exposure or acquired from diet and supplement intake. Previous medical research has shown that low body levels of vitamin D make people more susceptible to problems such as bone fractures, poor mental health and infections like the common cold.

13 Sep 2012

Young smokers face psychological difficulties of quitting as adults

Abstinence from smoking seems to affect teens differently than adults in a couple ways, but a new study provides evidence that most of the psychological difficulties of quitting are as strong for relatively new, young smokers as they are for adults who have been smoking much longer.

13 Sep 2012

Daily noise exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss in nightclub bar employees

New research shows that nightclub bar employees could be exposed to noise levels almost four times over the legal limit. Aoife Kelly, a PhD researcher in Dublin Institute of Technology also found that nightclub managers showed little awareness of the relevant health and safety legislation and had not provided hearing tests for their employees or provided training in noise awareness.

13 Sep 2012

New research offers ways in which investigators can reduce amount of Cd in foods

A number of environmental toxins pose considerable health threats to humans, and the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) ranks high on the list. Most of us are exposed to it through plant-derived foods such as grains and vegetables. Now, new research offers ways in which investigators can reduce the amount of Cd found in the food we eat, according to a review published online September 12th in the Cell Press journal Trends in Plant Science.

13 Sep 2012