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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 29, 2026 at 10:07am

Dreams drain energy: The REM sleep paradox

The brain demands a lot of energy compared with other organs. However, it can also make do when energy supplies are scarce, flexibly processing information using what is available. How the brain resourcefully allocates this limited energy across internal states remains a key question in neuroscience.
Sleep provides a useful window into answering this question. Although sleep is associated with rest, the brain remains highly active. This is especially true during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage closely linked to dreaming and memory processing. REM sleep is sometimes called "paradoxical sleep" because the body is largely still while the brain shows wake-like activity. Researchers have now uncovered another paradox within REM sleep: While energy supply to the dreaming brain appears to rise, the energy molecule used directly by neurons falls.
REM sleep is preceded by a cortex-wide increase in brain blood volume and astrocytic pyruvate, indicating elevated energy supply and glycolytic activity, while neuronal ATP levels paradoxically decrease. During NREM sleep, theta-band neuronal activity predicts delayed vascular changes. The results suggest state-dependent rerouting of metabolic resources and high ATP consumption for internal processing during REM sleep.
Sleep may appear peaceful, but the brain is highly active—especially when dreaming.
Non-REM (NREM) sleep is best known for strong neuronal activity in the delta-band frequency, but subtle theta-band fluctuations are also present. The researchers found that these theta-band fluctuations could predict brain blood volume changes several seconds later, suggesting that the sleeping brain adjusts vascular dynamics to ongoing neuronal activity and metabolic demand.
The transition from NREM sleep into REM sleep showed a different pattern. About 50 seconds before the classically defined onset of REM sleep, brain blood volume began to rise. This increase started in the posterior cortex and spread forward, suggesting a large-scale metabolic preparation process. After REM sleep began, astrocytic pyruvate also increased, consistent with enhanced substrate availability or elevated astrocytic glycolytic activity. Paradoxically, however, neuronal ATP decreased.
Several mechanisms may explain the ATP decrease. Neurons may consume large amounts of ATP during REM sleep to support memory-related synaptic reorganization, hippocampal-cortical communication or large-scale circuit transitions. Alternatively, metabolic transfer from astrocytes to neurons may be altered, or mitochondrial ATP production may shift.

The research also points toward a broader principle of biological computation. Unlike conventional computers, animal brains operate under strict metabolic constraints. Rather than distributing energy uniformly, the brain may reroute energy depending on behavioural state, memory demand and internal needs.
Sleep is a vital function that can help consolidate memories and keep us mentally sharp the next day. These findings about energy and sleep are a crucial step forward in helping us understand the science behind sleep and how a good night's rest is important not just for our bodies—but for our minds too.

Yusuke Takahashi et al, Energy paradox in REM sleep: balancing supply and consumption in brain metabolism, Communications Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10646-6

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 29, 2026 at 9:52am

'Fire clouds', the ominous phenomenon seen in France

Firefighters battling devastating fires in France have had to contend with a new threat: immense fire clouds that create their own wind and even lightning that can spark fresh blazes.
Known as "fire clouds" or pyrocumulonimbus clouds, these ominous-looking thunderstorms are created by extreme wildfires and can exacerbate already dangerous conditions.

This phenomenon, which is new to France, is yet another consequence of human-caused climate change, according to French researcher Jean-Baptiste Filippi, who studies wildfires.

As firefighters in southwest France struggle to bring a forest inferno under control before yet another heat wave descends on the country.
What is a fire cloud?
It is a storm where a column of air forms above a fire.

It starts off as a cute little white cloud—a cumulus cloud, which forms because water vapor has turned into tiny droplets.

As the sun heats the ground, the water vapor suddenly condenses. The cumulus becomes a much larger cloud, containing thousands of tonnes of suspended water.
Then, when the surrounding air becomes heated enough, it forms a column with an anvil-shaped cloud—the cumulonimbus.

This condenses even more air and generates more energy, with updrafts of more than 150 kilometers (90 miles) an hour.

It then rains, but the rain evaporates before it reaches the ground.

But it still cools the atmosphere where it falls, creating strong downdrafts.
It is a common phenomenon in Portugal, California and Australia, where firefighters are more used to them. In Portugal, they had been rare until the deadly 2017 fires in Pedrogao Grande changed things.

Is climate change to blame?
Yes, it is. A consequence of global warming is more frequent heat waves. While thunderstorms are common in the region of this fire, thunderstorm conditions after three successive heat waves are a new combination.

Are they predictable?
Weather services can predict thunderstorms. But because these storms are located directly above a fire, we would need to know the fire's exact location in advance. That's impossible.

We can predict the conditions that will lead to these fires, but we won't know exactly where they are.
The biggest challenge is how unpredictable they are. The fire in France's southwestern Gironde region started with northerly winds, then westerly, then southerly, then easterly, then back again to the south, then the west...

On top of that, there is this potential energy in the atmosphere that meant that, locally, the convection column sucked up the embers and carried the fire further afield.

The local conditions became catastrophic, and the rate of the fire's spread was staggering.

Source: News Agencies

and original article.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 29, 2026 at 9:38am

Chemicals present in drinking water may carry a hidden risk tied to uterine cancer

In a recent study, researchers examined whether certain chemicals present in public drinking water are linked to uterine cancer, the most common gynecological cancer that has been steadily increasing in incidence.

Researchers found that long-term exposure to certain drinking water disinfectant by products was linked to a higher risk of uterine cancer. The risk was greatest among women living in areas with higher levels of trihalomethanes (THMs), chemicals formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. This increased risk remained even when THM levels were within the government's legal limits.

Drinking water is a likely contributor, since it can carry contaminants that are known or suspected to cause cancer. While there are legal limits for contaminants, these limits are set based on what's technically possible, affordable and beneficial for health.

Common contaminants include natural substances like nitrate, arsenic and uranium, as well as byproducts created during water disinfection, such as THMs and haloacetic acids (HAA).

 The analysis found that exposure to certain chemicals used to disinfect public drinking water was associated with a higher risk of uterine cancer. In contrast, no association was found with other common contaminants, including nitrate, arsenic or uranium.

THMs, particularly chloroform, showed the strongest association with endometrioid tumors, which account for more than 95% of uterine cancer cases. Women exposed to the highest levels of THMs had an 18% higher risk of uterine cancer overall. Higher exposure to HAAs was associated with nearly twice the risk of developing nonendometrioid tumors.

The findings could help water utilities explore ways to reduce harmful disinfection byproducts while continuing to protect communities from waterborne infections. The results show an association between these chemicals in drinking water and uterine cancer risk, but they do not establish that they cause cancer.

Maya Spaur et al, Drinking Water Contaminant Exposures and Risk of Uterine Cancer, JAMA Network Open (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.24391

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 28, 2026 at 1:16pm

'I get caught up in the numbers game': Why useful social media content gets lost online
Useful, experience-based health content on social media often receives limited visibility because engagement-focused algorithms prioritize sensational or attention-grabbing posts. This leads to narrow, potentially unbalanced representations of illness and limited reach for accurate information on rare conditions. Users are advised to critically evaluate sources, cross-check with reputable health information, and manage their feeds to reduce harm.

original article.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 28, 2026 at 12:34pm

Low-cost spray can help tomatoes grow in salty soils

A simple, low-dose leaf spray could give farmers a practical new tool to keep growing tomatoes on land that salt has rendered increasingly unproductive, according to a new study .

A foliar spray combining manganese oxide nanoparticles and chitosan mitigated salinity stress in greenhouse-grown tomatoes. Under severe salt stress, treatment doubled shoot biomass, increased root biomass >55%, restored photosynthetic pigments (~91% carotenoid increase), reduced cellular damage markers, and boosted antioxidant enzyme activity up to 300%. Field-scale efficacy and long-term environmental impacts remain untested.

Farzaneh Ordooni et al, Synergistic alleviation of salinity stress in tomato: unraveling the physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant mechanisms modulated by manganese nanoparticles and chitosan, International Journal of Phytoremediation (2026). DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2026.2669640

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 28, 2026 at 12:11pm

Purple corn offers a stable natural alternative to artificial food dyes

Researchers are turning a unique variety of corn into an effective natural alternative to artificial food dyes.
scientists are studying a variety of purple-colored corn traditionally grown in South America. Its vibrant shades come from anthocyanins, natural pigments that give blueberries, red cabbage and grapes their colors.

Unlike artificial dyes, which are petroleum-based and added purely for appearance, anthocyanins are rich in antioxidants known for reducing inflammation and supporting heart health.

In corn, these colours are concentrated in the pericarp, the thin outer layer of the kernel.

Purple pericarp corn provides anthocyanin-based colorants that retain ~75% of key pigments after high-temperature exposure, rising to ~97% with protective food-grade coatings, yielding shelf-stable powders. These colorants show minimal degradation in acidic beverages over seven weeks refrigerated, supporting use as natural dye alternatives.
For food manufacturers, replacing synthetic dyes such as Red No. 40 and Red No. 3 has long been a challenge.

Most natural colours are fragile. For food manufacturers, replacing synthetic dyes such as Red No. 40 and Red No. 3 has long been a challenge.
They tend to break down when exposed to heat, light or oxygen.
That has become a major barrier in the food industry, where ingredients must withstand processing temperatures up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and remain stable on store shelves for weeks or even months.
In testing, researchers exposed purple corn colorants to elevated temperatures often used in food processing. After one hour of exposure, about 75% of the key color compounds remained intact.

If the colour looks good after heating, that's what matters to manufacturers.
When the team coated the pigments in protective, food-grade materials, retention increased to nearly 97% for some compounds. That process allows researchers to create shelf-stable powders, making purple corn-based colorants easier to store and transport.

Researchers also tested their purple colorants in a beverage system, one of the most demanding environments for natural dyes. Drinks are often acidic, exposed to light and stored for extended periods—all conditions that can quickly degrade plant-based ingredients.

"Purple corn-based colorants held up well in acidic and basic environments.
This durability, combined with potential health benefits, makes purple corn colorants more than a niche ingredient. They offer food companies a viable path to cleaner labels without sacrificing performance. For consumers, that could mean replacing artificial dyes with natural ingredients.

Ahmad Ali et al, Thermal and storage degradation kinetics of corn anthocyanin-based natural red colorants in a model beverage system, and their gastrointestinal behavior, npj Science of Food (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00881-w

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 27, 2026 at 12:30pm

Into the ‘unknome’
The ‘unknome’ — the vast number of microbial genes with unknown functions — could encode capabilities that are critical for interactions between microorganisms. But these interactions are rarely captured in single-species lab cultures, which makes studying their genetic origins difficult, argues a group of microbial ecologists and geneticists. They suggest that co-cultures of diverse species and experiments that simulate real-world conditions could give researchers a better picture of complex microbial interactions, which could enable them to start assigning functions to currently unlabelled genes.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-026-00870-5.epdf?sharing_tok...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 27, 2026 at 12:26pm

Moss can generate electrical waves

Mosses are some of the earliest plants that appeared in the fossil record, but they're anything but simple.

A new study, published in Royal Society Open Science, reveals that moss cushions produce surprisingly complex electrical activity, with patterns that undulate across the velvety patch in dynamic waves.

His findings suggest that "moss cushions behave as spatially distributed excitable systems potentially capable of coordinating and integrating electrical signals across both space and time."

Moss cushions are actually many individual clones of the same teensy tiny plant.

If you look really, really closely at a mat of moss, you can see it is made up of simple, minute leaves on stems, similar to those of their larger plant relatives.

But the stems of mosses are actually much less useful at moving water and nutrients around the body of the plant.

Mosses actually never developed the vascular systems that we see in other more complex plants, which is why they cannot grow much taller than a few centimeters. Their leaf-like structures are just one cell thick; they don't even have roots.

But that doesn't mean they're not potentially capable of transmitting information across the colony by other means.

Some of the moss's electrical waves were rapid, while others undulated slowly. They tended to spread across the entire cushion rather than remaining confined to a particular region, and followed patterns across different timescales.

These findings suggest that "moss behaves as a dynamic, interconnected system rather than a collection of independent cells."

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/7/252341/482568/...

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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 26, 2026 at 9:33am

Analysis of the data revealed that individuals with clinical obesity were much more likely to develop or die from cardiovascular disease than those without obesity.

Women with clinical obesity developed cardiovascular disease at a rate that was 2.5-fold higher than women without obesity. They also died from cardiovascular disease at an almost threefold (2.8-fold) higher rate than women without obesity.

Similarly, men with clinical obesity developed cardiovascular disease at an almost twofold higher rate (1.9-fold) and had a 2.6-fold higher rate of cardiovascular mortality than men without obesity.

However, individuals with preclinical obesity were also at higher risk, despite not having any obesity-related conditions and seeming to be in good health.

Women with preclinical obesity developed cardiovascular disease at a 38% higher rate and died from cardiovascular disease at a 46% higher rate than women without obesity.

For men, preclinical obesity was associated with an 18% higher rate of developing cardiovascular disease and a 52% higher rate of cardiovascular disease mortality.

All of the results were adjusted for socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors, including smoking and alcohol consumption.

Further analysis showed that the more "high-risk" central adiposity markers (waist measurements) an individual had, the more likely they were to develop heart disease. For example, a woman with one high-risk marker (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio or waist-to-height ratio) was 17% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than a woman without any high-risk waist measurements. Having all three high-risk measurements increased the risk by 64%.
The study also found that waist measurements were more accurate at predicting cardiovascular disease than BMI.

The researchers concluded that individuals with preclinical obesity are at higher risk of developing, and dying from, cardiovascular disease despite appearing to be healthy.

Hidden risk of heart disease in seemingly healthy people who are living with overweight or obesity, International Congress on Obesity 2026, icocongress.com/

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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on July 26, 2026 at 9:32am

Weight around the belly is a better predictor of heart health than BMI, research indicates

Individuals with overweight or obesity can have a higher risk of heart disease despite appearing to be healthy, new research presented at the International Congress on Obesity in Mexico City (15–17 July) shows. Using waist-based measurements along with body mass index (BMI) to identify this hidden risk and intervene early could prevent hundreds of thousands from dying from heart attacks, strokes and other cardiac problems in the years to come, say researchers.

Central adiposity markers outperform BMI for predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using a BMI-plus-waist framework, both clinical and preclinical obesity were associated with substantially higher CVD incidence and mortality, even without comorbidities. Increasing numbers of high-risk waist measures markedly raised CVD risk, and early intervention at the preclinical stage could avert ~40–45% of CVD events and deaths.
The link between central, or abdominal, obesity and heart disease is especially strong because fat stored around the waist, known as visceral fat, is metabolically active and releases inflammatory substances into the bloodstream. Over time, this chronic inflammatory state can damage blood vessels and accelerate the buildup of arterial plaque, significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks.
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