Category Archives: Issues in Science

Plants – A Better Way to Fuel

Posted on November 27, 2013 by zphil | Leave a comment

Long line-up at the US Costco gas station for cheaper gas. Credit: Paul Sakuma

It is that time of the year again, when your neighbours brag about all the cheap items that they bring back from the south. But believe it or not, the one common thing that all these Canadian shoppers who pass the border for the US Black Friday sale come back with is neither discounted clothing nor electronics. Rather, it is gas.

The price of fuel has been skyrocketing over the past few years, compelling the Canadian industry to seek alternatives to fossil fuels. One of the most popular alternatives lies in the area of biofuels, a renewable and economical energy source derived from the products of living organisms such as the sugar secretions of plants. However, the problems with production efficiency and environment sustainability affiliated with biofuels have hindered their general adaptation in the industries.

Arabidopsis Thaliana secretes sugars which can be processed for biofuels. Credit: Thomas Meyer

Last year, an attempt to resolve the problem was done when Gabriel Levesque-Tremblay and his colleagues at the University of British Columbia conducted a research on the role of vesicle transport of sugars from the Golgi Apparatus to the cell wall of a small flowering Arabidopsis plant.

With prior knowledge of the functions of a particular plant gene, which encodes proteins that play a significant role in cellular secretion, Gabriel’s research team inhibited the expression of this gene, namely the ECHIDNA gene, in plant seeds to study the changes in the activity of secretory vesicles containing the polysaccharides, or sugars.

Granule accumulation inside the cell. Credit:http://pcp.oxfordjournals.org/ content/early/2013/09/20/pcp.pct129. full.pdf+html

They found that without the expression of the ECHIDNA gene, the cells are still able to transport sugars across the Golgi apparatus. However, the secretory vesicles are unable to fuse with the cell wall of the plant, resulting in clusters of vesicles accumulating near the cell membrane. In other words, without the proper functioning of this ECHIDNA gene, the plant is unable to secrete the sugar products that the industry needs to extract to use as biofuels.

The following podcast introduces the two novel techniques that Gabriel’s study used to knock off the gene of interest in order to study the genetic effect of proteins on the plant’s vesicular transport and subsequently the secretion of sugars.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Gabriel’s study suggests that the ECHIDNA gene, as well as perhaps other unidentified genes in plants, plays a critical role in controlling the vesicular fusion with the cell wall. Consequently, the ECHIDNA gene also regulates the efficiency of plant secretion. This opens window into increasing the secretion yield of plants. Engineers may be able to modify the genes to improve the fusion of cellular vesicles with cell walls and enhance the efficiency of cellular secretion. Ultimately, this could allow more sugar extractions from the plants to be used as biofuels and potentially lower gas prices

For more details about the experiment and more examples of the industrial applications of biofuel, check out the following video:

–Ziharrphil Magnaye, Connie Lee, Nick Hsieh (Group 3)

References:

Leave a comment

Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Outreach Project, Science Communication

Tagged Biofuels, cellular secretion, fossil fuel alternatives, green energy, plant biology, plant genetics

More Than Meets the Eye

Posted on November 27, 2013 by angelicareyes | Leave a comment

Everyday we are constantly surrounded by different types of screens. For example: our computer screens, our TV screens, and our cell phone screens. However, the images we see are not comparable to what we see in reality. Being aware of such a difference can be dissatisfying, especially when we look at pictures of: the sunset, the mountains, and the beach. Jakob Emmel, a Ph.D Candidate from the Physics Department at the University of British Columbia, was not an exception.

Jakob Emmel. Image source: still shot of raw footage

The first time he saw high dynamic range (HDR) displays that can show huge contrast, he described it as an “eye-opening experience.” HDR refers to the ratio of the maximum darkness to the maximum brightness that a screen can show. The higher the ratio, the better we can distinguish the “black” parts of the screen compared to the “white” parts. For comparison, a common non-HDR display may show a contrast ratio of 1000:1 while average human eyes can see a contrast of 100,000:1. HDR displays can show a contrast in the range of the human eyes or even higher.

Nonetheless, there are still drawbacks with these awesome displays. In the video below, Jakob describes how current displays can be improved in projecting more uniform brightness across the screen as well as the contrast:

Although Jakob’s research was successful, the first prototype he made was not as effective. To control the light coming from each light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for better contrast and uniformity, he had used black filters on top of each LEDs. However, due to the nature of these filters, they absorbed some of the light rather than allowing the light to brighten the screen.

First Prototype with Black Filters. Image source: still shot of raw footage

In his second prototype, Jakob made white filters with special reflective coatings. This allowed the spreading light from each LEDs to be reflected back to its source rather than be absorbed, preserving the light more efficiently. This way, dark areas can be dark and bright areas can be bright in the displays.

Second Prototype with White Filters. Image source: still shot of raw footage

This technology can be applied in many areas. The most prominent source for its effective use is in medicine. With a better display, doctors can see images more clearly and be able to differentiate them more effectively since even the smallest irregularity can be a sign of a deadly tumor.

Specified in the podcast is the technology’s application in movie post editing. As doctors could examine x-ray or MRI images better, movie editors can take advantage of this as well for spotting inequalities in the raw footage.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It is adequate to say that Jakob Emmel’s technological innovation is a step forward in grasping reality into the pocket screens of our phones and more. Contribution in the fields of medicine and movie production may only be the tip of an iceberg of vast technological advances to be uncovered.

Group 1
Jina Choi, Matthew Hong, and Angelica Reyes

Leave a comment

Posted in Issues in Science, Outreach Project, Science Communication, Science in the News

Tagged contrast, HDR display, LED, physics

Introduction to Cybercrime

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Jina | 1 comment

Criminal behind a computer. Image from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pccare247_inc/7151335071/

Cybercrime is one of the fastest growing sectors in crime. A computer security software company defines it as: any crime that is committed using a computer or network, or hardware device. It is also one of the most ambiguous terms because these illegal activities come in many shapes and there is not a definite legal-illegal boundary set by the authorities around the world. Some of these crimes are listed as follows:

-stealing and/or modification of data, or identities

-corporate espionages

-distribution of viruses via a link in emails (phishing)

With developing technology, the speed and the convenience of being able to commit a cybercrime anywhere, anytime in the world has contributed to its growing popularity. However, because internets are global but laws are not, legally speaking, it is hard to catch and punish cyber criminals. If individuals, or small groups of individuals worked together in the past to hack a system, for example, nowadays, they have organized themselves into a group of technology professionals. They sell hacking services openly online and products are made available to them for their “businesses.” For instance, if you want them to attack a website, they might do it at $30 per hour. To test their viruses, or codes, before selling, platforms are available for testing with a fee.

So, how does a device get infected?

It can be as simple as plugging in a USB, containing attacking codes to a target computer. Within seconds, documents can be accessed and modified, and programs can be launched. If the computer is connected to a network of a company, it could lead to disastrous outcomes for that company. However, needing to physically plug in a USB may be challenging in most cases.

A common way to infect a website is by entering codes directly into it. Most companies have a comments section where people can submit comments. If the attacker enters a code instead of a comment and submits it, the code will be interpreted. This is all under an assumption that the security level is not high.

Cyber Attack. Image from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75468116@N04/8569854011/

According to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), stolen intellectual properties from businesses worldwide are worth around $1 trillion in US dollars.

If protected business networks are attacked successfully, how can we protect our less secure personal devices?

James Lyne, an expert in this field, advises that by doing the basics such as keeping up-to-date with antivirus programs, having differing passwords and changing them frequently, 99% of the attacks may not work. Also, he mentions in his TED talk that when our devices can scan for wireless networks, we let out information about connected networks in the past. This is important because most network names imply location and possibly what the place is (eg. StarbucksWifi, UBCSecure). Therefore, even if it is convenient, we should delete the “remembered networks” if possible. Also, when using social media, it is important to check not only our security settings but also the settings of our “friends” and “followers.” With these precautions, our personal information may be better protected. Here is a short video about interesting facts of cybercrime.

References: Cybercrime (Interpol), What is Cybercrime?, James Lyne: Everyday Cybercrime — and What You Can Do About it

1 Comment

Posted in Issues in Science, Public Engagement, Science Communication

Tagged Computer Viruses, Cybercrime, Hacking, Internet, Malware, Privacy

The Haunting Truth Surrounding Decorative Contact Lenses

Posted on November 4, 2013 by angelicareyes | 1 comment

Those decorative contact lenses you bought to spice up your Halloween costume may be scarier than you thought! They come in a wide variety of crazy colors and styles to change the appearance of your eye. Even though Halloween is over now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants consumers to be aware of the dangerous side effects that could potentially haunt them forever.

Halloween Costume with Decorative Contact Lenses. Image source: Flickr

These contact lenses are sold at many different places such as: Halloween stores, boutiques, salons, novelty stores, the internet, and flea markets. But according to the FDA, they are not considered cosmetics or over-the-counter products. They are regulated medical devices and selling them without a prescription is against the law.

Different Types of Decorative Contact Lenses. Image source: Lens-Saver

Dr. Bernard Lepri, an FDA optometrist said, “The danger isn’t with the contacts themselves. It’s the way people use them improperly.” So, in order to safely buy them, many precautionary steps must be taken:

1)   You need to get an eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. This is
important, regardless of whether or not you think you have 20/20 vision.
2)   You need to get a valid prescription for the lenses. This must include the
brand name, lens measurements, and an expiration date.
3)   You must buy your lenses from a vendor that requires a prescription.
Otherwise, you are buying them illegally.
4)   You must follow the directions provided for cleaning, disinfecting, and
wearing the lenses. This is very important in order to prevent any bacterial
infections from occurring.
5)   You must see your eye doctor right away if you notice any signs of redness, eye pain, or decrease in vision.

Unfortunately, most people don’t follow those steps, since you can just buy the lenses over-the-counter. Also, Dr. Lepri said, “Most people believe that decorative lenses do not require the same level of care or consideration as a standard contact lens, but this is far from the truth.”

Standard Contact Lens. Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Consequently, if those precautionary steps are not followed, you could cause serious damage to your eye, including:

– Corneal abrasion: scratches on the cornea (the transparent tissue that
covers the colored part of your eye)
– Corneal infection
– Conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye)
– Decreased vision or blindness

But don’t expect your eye doctor to prescribe any over-the-top circle lenses just yet! The FDA has not approved those.

Below is a video showing how detrimental decorative circle contact lenses are to your eyes.

References:

-http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20131024/halloween-contact-lenses-can-be-horror-story-for-eyes
-http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm275069.htm

-Angelica Reyes

1 Comment

Posted in Issues in Science, Public Engagement, Science Communication, Science in the News

Tagged contact lenses, decorative contacts, Halloween costumes, over-the-counter products

Make a great first impression: Brushing teeth properly

Posted on November 3, 2013 by sungbin93 | Leave a comment

Brushing teeth is important because it affects making a good first impression. According to Health Correspondent, Joshua Levine, “bad breath is a definite first impression killer and can make intimacy unpleasant”. No matter how great a person is, it would be hard to talk with him or her if he or she has a bad breath. Thus, it is essential to brush your teeth properly, so that you do not have a bad breath, which may ruin your personal relationships.

Bad breath affects making the first impressions. Image from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmeticdentalsurgery/6921219558/

Having unpleasant odor on the exhaled breath is called halitosis. There are many reasons for halitosis, but the main cause is the foods remaining in the mouth. After eating, if the mouth is not cleaned properly, the odor-producing bacteria grow in the mouth. These bacteria accumulate on the foods remaining between the teeth, and release volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which make the breath smell. Therefore, it is necessary to brush teeth regularly, and keep the mouth clean from the foods remaining in order to prevent the halitosis.

Brushing teeth properly is important. Image from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkobayashi/151459238

To give you some tips how to brush teeth properly, choosing the right toothbrush and bristles is important. This is because if the toothbrush is too big for your mouth, you cannot brush the teeth inside the mouth. Also, it is crucial to brush teeth for right period of time because brushing teeth too often and hard may expose the root of the tooth to irritation. However, it is still needed to brush teeth often enough and long enough. Michael Sesemann, the president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, suggested that brushing teeth for about three minutes is the optimal period of time. Moreover, always remember to brush inner tooth surfaces because the inner surfaces of the tooth is where the most foods remaining stay.

Brush your teeth properly, stay away from the bad breath, and make your impressions always fresh.

References: Askmen, TeensHealth, Web MD

Leave a comment

Posted in Issues in Science, Public Engagement

Tagged bacteria, bad breath, brushing teeth, impressions, mouth, sulfur, teeth, toothbrush

Cellphone Radiation: Harmful?

Posted on November 2, 2013 by zphil | 1 comment

image source: flickr

In modern times, especially in developed countries, it’s safe to say that the majority of people own a cellular device. In fact, Statistics Canada declared that in 2010, a whopping 78% of Canadian households owned a cellphone. According to the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), cellphones emit radio waves, which tissues closest to the source can absorb. As part of our daily lives in this booming technology-dependent world, it’s worth noting any possible harm caused by cellular phones.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is a measure of how much radio energy is absorbed by the body. In Canada, the limit is a maximum of 1.6 watts per kilogram and a cellular company must meet this requirement to get certified. The cellphone you currently have should have a lower SAR value than this; however, if you’re curious, a list of SAR values is available online. Furthermore, the SAR value can change depending on the distance of the phone from the closest contact. CNET’s Kent German explained that cellphone manuals of brands, like the iPhone and Blackberry, advise the users to keep the phone a certain distance from the ear. These are the same manuals disregarded by the users. Lastly, he added, “What’s more, though science hasn’t proven that cell phones can cause brain cancer or other ailments, it hasn’t proven definitively that they aren’t harmful, either”

image source: wikipedia commons

More studies conclude that cellphone use doesn’t have an adverse effect on our health and safety; however, there are reviews reporting that some studies found an increased cancer risk affiliated with cellphone use. “A number of prominent, peer reviewed studies indicating that cell phone radiation can cause genetic damage, brain and blood cell dysfunction and a host of health problems including cancer“, Dr. George Carlo said.

There is a lot of uncertainty involved with the research regarding the negative impacts of radiation emitted by cellphones. Moreover, there are no absolute repercussions in using a cellphone nor a statement that says it’s completely harmless.

In the following video, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks about the possible effects of exposure to radiation, adult and children’s susceptibility, and safety guidelines.

In addition to Dr. Gupta’s safety advice, the Natural Health News has provided 10 ways to minimize our exposure to the harmful radiation of cellphones.

The Environmental Working Group announced that the World Health Organization made associations between cellphone use and brain cancer, sperm damage, and behavioural changes. Despite all of these possible harmful effects, why are we not conducting more research that can lead us to a more definite answer? A recent Vancouver Sun article states that Health Canada is allegedly manipulating reports on cellphone radiation. Why is this happening? What impedes further study regarding the topic?

-Ziharrphil Magnaye

References:

MobileSyrup, National Cancer Institute, cnet, SAR Values, cnet, Taylor and Francis Online, Mobile Phones and Cancer, NaturalNews.com, Environmental Working Group, Vancouver Sun

1 Comment

Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in the News

Tagged cellphone, radiation, specific absorption rate

Still yet a cure: Dead end of the “cold” maze

Posted on November 2, 2013 by seraphinush | Leave a comment

It’s the flu season again and there are lots of free flu vaccines available at your local pharmacy. Although not necessarily as harmful as the flu, the common cold is as painstaking as the flu. Reason why? There’s yet a cure for this common virus.

Hard to assume, the rhinovirus (common cold) itself is not simple or common in terms of its structure. The virus contains many genes, and expresses different patterns on the surface of its out layer, either the membrane or the capsid (protein shell).

As of October 28th, 2013, professor Ann Palmenberg and her research team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were finally able to construct a three-dimensional model of rhinovirus C. This membranous pattern of a capsid gives us insight on not only the virus’ docking abilities, but also why it was able to evade the antibiotics.

Comparison Model of Rhinovirus A (left) and C (right). The patterns on the capsid (protein coat) are different. (Primary Source: UW-Madison, Secondary Source: Science News)

Of the three human rhinoviruses (common cold) A, B, and C, rhinoviruses A and B have been easily collected for studying, which made it that much more easier for scientists to map the membrane. On the other hand, rhinovirus C has not been studied as much as the other two rhinoviruses.

The three-dimensional model of rhinovirus C was mapped with 500 different sources of rhinovirus C genome, and this model clearly showed that the pattern was significantly different than the patterns of rhinoviruses A and B. Drugs have been designed to work well against strains of rhinoviruses A and B. With such different patterns of rhinovirus C and rhinoviruses A and B, it is inevitable for the drugs to be ineffective towards rhinovirus C. This is why people still get sick even though clinically drugs are able to fend off rhinoviruses A and B; rhinovirus C could evade the drug and take over host cells.

The following is a video of rhinovirus strain A-16 binding to a receptor. Please note that the video does not contain any sound.

With this in mind, Holly A. Basta, a graduate student working with Palmenberg suggests creating a new drug just for the C strain. Rhinovirus C has different receptors (docking system) and different binding platform than rhinoviruses A and B. Until a new drug is developed, we must stay on our toes and try to prevent ourselves from catching a cold.

By: Junki (Seraphinus) Hong

References:

Basta, H. A., Sgro, J., & Palmenberg, A. C. (2014). Modeling of the human rhinovirus C capsid suggests a novel topography with insights on receptor preference and immunogenicity. Virology, 448(0), 176-184. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2013.10.006

Leave a comment

Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Public Engagement, Science in the News

Tagged cold, cure, model, virus

Schadenfreude. Your pain, my gain?

Posted on October 28, 2013 by cherrylo | 1 comment

Have you ever stifled a laugh when you witnessed someone do something embarrassing? Although it feels a bit wrong to do that, it can’t be helped sometimes. It is called schadenfreude—the feeling of pleasure from others’ sufferings. It is a German word that literally translates to “Harm-Joy”, the opposite of empathy. Empathy is a trait humans possess that allows humans to sense and sympathize with the emotional states of other people.

Laughing at other’s misfortunes. Is it normal?

In a recent study done by professors at Princeton University, they investigated the relationship between schadenfreude and envy. They came up with three conditions that predict schadenfreude: “(1) when the misfortune benefits the observer, (2) when the misfortune seems deserved, and (3) when the misfortune befalls on an envied target.” They proposed that envied targets are the greatest victims of schadenfreude as people feel better about themselves after witnessing someone enviable fail. Their classification of enviable targets consists of the rich and people of high status.

To test this claim, the researchers presented the subjects with photographs associated with different stereotypes, such as rich professionals, drug addicts, and the elderly. Participants were asked how those images made them feel. Obviously, the subjects did not want to reveal their envy; therefore, researchers used an electromyogram to record electrical activity of facial movements when the subject smiled, capturing the “malicious glee” of the subjects’ responses to negative happenings of the envied targets.

Interestingly, the proposed phenomenon is not pathological, but a normal human response. Thrown in competitive environments in school and work places, it is difficult not to be envious of others of higher status. While wanting to achieve a greater standing, one may have become preoccupied with bringing other people down instead of improving themselves. Furthermore, the indifferent attitude may causes discrimination and conflicts within societies. Therefore, we need to be careful not to take things too far the next time we have an urge to laugh at someone else’s misfortune.

Reference:

Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude

Electromyography

Empathy

by Cherry Lo

1 Comment

Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science

Tagged empathy, mind health, psychology, Schadenfreude

Faking is Not Always Bad

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Jina | 2 comments

You are nervously waiting for your turn in a competitive job interview. All interviewees seem to be around the same age as you with similar degrees, and similar work experiences. How would you differentiate yourself?

Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, and associate professor at Harvard Business School, would say power posing.

When we think about body language, we know that it contributes a lot in communication. We judge others by what they say, but also from what their bodies say. Likewise, others judge us by interpreting our body language. Amy Cuddy points out, however, that we are forgetting another audience—ourselves. By faking our postures to be seen as more powerful, confident and optimistic for two minutes, we can feel powerful, confident and optimistic.

First, let’s observe how power is exemplified in postures.

In Amy Cuddy’s TED talk, she shows a picture of a gorilla and a monkey with their arms wide open. This pose of making oneself big and taking up space is a

Examples of high power pose. Image from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/6279920952/

sign of power and dominance. Similarly, for humans, we can picture someone who has just run through the finish line at a marathon—arms are wide open, and the chin is slightly lifted. On the other hand, hunching up and making oneself small are examples of low power poses.

Physiologically, low levels of the stress hormone cortisol and high levels of the dominance hormone testosterone are found in powerful, effective leaders as well as high-power male primates, according to numerous studies.

In a study published in 2010, Amy Cuddy experimented how high and low power poses relate to testosterone and cortisol levels in people. The subjects were required to either do high or low power pose for two minutes. Their saliva samples from before and after posing were compared. The results were not surprising. High power posers had increased testosterone levels and decreased cortisol levels, whereas low power posers showed the opposite pattern. The researchers in this experiment concluded that by consciously power posing, people can feel different about themselves.

So what does all this mean in more practical terms?

This was the same question Cuddy asked herself which led her to do another experiment. The procedure was the same as her previous experiment but this time, after posing, the subjects went through five minutes of recorded, stressful job interviews. The interview videos were then watched by coders, who were blind to this experiment, to choose who they would hire. Not surprisingly, the chosen subjects were high power posers and were generally judged more positively. Because the content of what the interviewees said, eligibilities, and competence were all taken into account, these factors did not affect the selection process.

Overall, it is fascinating how faking a high power pose for few minutes can change hormone levels to feel more powerful and certain about ourselves. With many interviews and similar situations to go through in the future, power posing may be one of the keys to successful outcomes.

Amy Cuddy during her TED talk, suggesting we should try high power pose for two minutes before interviews, rather than be in low power pose. Image from Flickr: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7460807124_66d1989156_o.jpg

By: Jina Choi

References: Amy Cuddy, Your Body Language Shapes Who You are, Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect Neuroendocrine Levels and Risk Tolerance, Practicing Certain Poses Creates a Sense of Power

2 Comments

Posted in Issues in Science, Public Engagement, Science Communication, Science in the News

Tagged Amy Cuddy, Body Language, Cortisol, Power, Power Posing, TED, Testosterone

The Healthy Side to Coffee

Posted on October 14, 2013 by angelicareyes | 4 comments

Like many students at UBC, I rely on coffee to get me going throughout the day. I always have a tall americano from Starbucks in the morning and lately I’ve been getting a second cup in the afternoon as well. It’s come to the point where I’ve been told that I need to cut back and reduce my daily caffeine intake. But recent studies have shown that it may not be so bad for you after all.

Coffee. Image source: My Mzone

For example, did you know a cup of coffee has up to four times more antioxidants than green tea? In fact, scientists have discovered that it can contain more antioxidants than a typical serving of fruit, such as: blueberries, raspberries, and oranges. However, new research has shown the effectiveness of antioxidants may be lessened for those who add milk or cream to their coffee. This is due to the fact that when milk or cream is added, it binds to the antioxidants and therefore lessens its effectiveness.

Effect of Antioxidants. Image source: Lean it up

Antioxidants are very important for us because they help fight oxidation. This is a chemical process that occurs naturally in our body every day. When this natural process is disrupted, free radicals are created. These are highly unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells in the body if left uncontrolled.

Also, researchers have found that coffee can reduce the risk of stroke. A study at the Harvard School of Public Health followed a group of women over a 24-year period. The group consisted of 83, 076 women who participated in the Nurses Health Study that had no history of stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Their coffee consumption and amount of strokes were recorded from 1980 to 2004. They were able to conclude that those who drank coffee reduced their risk of stroke by 20%.

Cause of Stroke. Image source: Flickr

In addition, a study in Finland suggests that coffee offers protection against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The researchers randomly selected 1409 participants and followed them over a 21-year period. They were specifically focused on the coffee consumption of participants at midlife and the occurrence of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia later on in life. Surprisingly, a 65% decrease in disease was found in people who consumed coffee daily.

So next time you think about kicking your coffee habit to the curb, remember all of these health benefits it’s linked to.

Coffee Beans. Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Below is a video that describes in more detail the effects of antioxidants and caffeine in coffee.

References:

-http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/antioxidants-explained-why-these-compounds-are-so-important/247311/

Category Archives: Issues in Science

Plants – A Better Way to Fuel

More Than Meets the Eye

Introduction to Cybercrime

The Haunting Truth Surrounding Decorative Contact Lenses

Make a great first impression: Brushing teeth properly

Cellphone Radiation: Harmful?

Still yet a cure: Dead end of the “cold” maze

Schadenfreude. Your pain, my gain?

Faking is Not Always Bad

The Healthy Side to Coffee

Add Users

Recent Posts

Authors

Science Feeds

Category Archives: Issues in Science

Add Users

Recent Posts

Authors

Tags