off-beat

Doing some physical activity improves the ability to think and process information. A research has shown this to be true for both primary school and secondary school pupils.

Placebo treatments can trigger measurable changes in the brain, immune system and hormone function. In studies on pain, placebos cause the brain to release endorphins, the body’s natural opioids. In Parkinson’s disease, placebo injections increase dopamine activity in the brain. The placebo effect isn’t magic. It’s biology.

A new study of two whale fossils, with preservedfragments of shark teeth, suggests the modern descendants of these animalscould once again roam the southern region of the North Sea, between the UK,Belgium and Denmark.

The new fossils were found in the Jurassic red beds of the Middle Atlas Mountains show that this ankylosaur was covered in spikes that were fused directly to its skeleton. They also show that the tail weapons characteristic of ankylosaurs evolved much earlier than scientists had previously believed.

By pinpointing exactly when Madagascar’s most arid region was wet, dry and everything in between over 700 years, scientists now have a powerful new baseline for evaluating what might happen with today’s climate change.

At first glance, Rajasthan’s Kishangarh appears like a vast stretch of sparkling white glacier, or Bolivia’s salt flats, if you must. However, labelled as a toxic tourist destination for dangerously high levels of silicate, nitrate and fluoride, the site continues to be open to visitors.

Its seeds are effective throughout a full treatment cycle, including flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration.

Bees help farmers grow the foods people love to eat, everything from apples to almonds. Along with other pollinators – such as flies, butterflies and moths – bees help nearly 80 per cent of flowering plants produce fruit and seeds, which in turn support birds and other wildlife.

A recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology found that when soil dries out, it can speed up the natural processes that create and spread antibiotic resistance.

New research suggests that many dog owners are not skilled in recognising pain in their pets as they might like to think. This could have significant consequences for the behaviour, health and welfare of our pets.

Vegan leather is not one material, but a broad label that covers everything from plastic coatings to plant-based surfaces, which is why regulators are starting to question vague green claims.

If AI companionship becomes widespread enough to influence those norms, popular ideas about what makes a good partner may prioritise availability and responsiveness, displacing other aspects of love and affection.