Scotland is elated at the inauguration of its very own “bee therapy” retreat, marking a significant milestone in the United Kingdom.

Taking inspiration from the well-established Apipods that are quite popular in Eastern Europe, these wooden huts adorned with beehives on their exteriors are an innovative concept that has gained major popularity in such countries as Ukraine ad Slovenia. That’s because they believe that the scent of honey and the gentle vibrations emitted by bees have therapeutic effects on humans, and these regions have long utilized these elements to treat respiratory conditions.

Captivated by the serenity and rejuvenating qualities of this incredibly unique experience during a visit to Slovenia, Charlotte Blacker, a business owner who works closely with the Monachyle Mhor hotel, decided to bring this exceptional relaxation opportunity back to the UK. Thankfully, the hotel’s owner and chef, Tom Lewis, agreed with her idea.

Lewis shared with SWNS news service, “We absolutely love the idea of working in harmony with the bees to create this unique experience.”

Nestled amidst a tranquil wooded glade, the apipod has been ingeniously designed to accommodate six beehives, housing a thriving community of at least 60,000 honey bees within the compartments located beneath the wooden floors. Because they have their very own exclusive entrance, these honey bees not only move around freely, but they do not prove a threat to the human guests living above them.

Within the apipod, guests can indulge in a 45-minute session of relaxation or even find solace in peaceful slumber on two cozy beds enveloped in sheepskin covers. Positioned directly above the hives, these beds allow guests to experience the subtle yet invigorating micro-vibrations resonating through their bodies, provided by the thousands of bees, unbeknownst to these resourceful and busy-winged insects.

Blacker explains, “There’s loads of therapeutic value with bees. The notes they buzz in help out nervous system. There are trials with people with PTSD.”

Incredibly, the hotel – located in Crieff, Perthshire – had quickly filled up its bookings all throughout June, which was the same month it was launched.

“We have the perfect spot to do it. The hotel is in a wilderness with freshwater lochs. Everyone has really embraced it. You de-stress listening to the sounds of the bees going about their daily life, surrounded by the aromas of honey, propolis, nectar and pollen,” she adds.

“The vibrations caused by bees’ wings also have a positive energizing effect, which calms and relaxes. Why not spend the day immersed in nature, wild swimming, hiking, and relaxing over lunch before being lulled to sleep by the gentle vibration of thousands of tiny wing beats enveloped in the heavenly scent of warm honey from the hives beneath you?” suggests Blecker.

For those seeking this extraordinary encounter, each 45-minute session is priced at £80 for single use, which is a little more than $100, and £120 for two people, around $157 or so. The experience includes a delightful assortment of freshly picked lemon balm tea from the hotel’s kitchen garden, accompanied by raw honey on Mena bread, complemented by a delectable snack bar crafted by Charlotte’s health food company, Herb Majesty.

According to Mr. Lewis, it has been a tough few years for the hospitality industry, but “always doing things differently has been a key for survival.”

“The apipod fits with what we already do here, which is to provide our guests with great food, warm hospitality and unforgettable memories,” he adds.

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Introduction

HiPP is a European brand of organic infant formula that is widely known for its high-quality ingredients and strict manufacturing standards. HiPP German formula is made from milk sourced from biodynamic farms in Germany, which means that the cows are fed with organic grass and hay and are not treated with any antibiotics or hormones. This HiPP Formula is also free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and does not contain genetically modified ingredients.

Moreover, HiPP German formula contains a balanced ratio of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are important for infant growth and development. The formula is also enriched with prebiotics and probiotics that support healthy gut flora and improve digestion and immunity. 

Some parents may choose HiPP German infant formula because it contains organic milk from pasture-raised cows, organic whey, and organic vegetable oils that provide essential nutrients for an infant’s growth and development. The company also claims that its products do not contain any harmful ingredients such as GMOs, pesticides, artificial flavors, and preservatives. 

Here are a few points which make the formula the best choice for your infant:

1. Organic Ingredients: 

HiPP German infant formula is made using organic ingredients, meaning that the milk used comes from cows that are organically fed and is not treated with any hormones or antibiotics. Organic certification ensures the product is free from pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

2. Essential Nutrients: 

HiPP German infant formula is designed to provide all the nutrients infants need for healthy growth and development. It contains a balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D.

3. Gentle on the Digestive System: 

HiPP German infant formula is formulated to be gentle on the digestive system of infants. It contains a blend of whey and casein proteins that are easy to digest and organic vegetable oils that are similar to the fats found in breast milk.

4. No Artificial Additives: 

HiPP German infant formula contains no artificial additives such as colors, flavors, or preservatives. This means the product is free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives that may cause adverse effects in some infants.

5. Manufacturing Standards: 

HiPP is known for its high-quality manufacturing standards. The company uses a unique production process that aims to preserve the natural composition of the milk and ensures that the product is easy to digest for infants. This can be important for parents concerned about their baby’s digestive health and want a gentle formula on their stomach.

Final Words

HiPP Formula is the most reliable product for the growth and development of your infant. But it’s important to note that every infant is unique and may have different nutritional needs and feeding preferences. Therefore, before making any decisions about infant formula, it’s recommended that parents consult with a healthcare provider who can provide personalized advice based on the infant’s individual needs and circumstances.

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Mental health, first and foremost, needs to be addressed for all sectors in society. This is something that many sometimes overlook, but when a job puts too much stress on you, you need to consider your wellbeing and take steps to avoid a breakdown.

The good news is that many are starting to notice the importance of putting mental health first, and when they did this, they saw improvements, especially in the number of suicide rates.

There was a significant drop in the suicide rates, particularly among active military members. The researchers observed in 2021 and they have seen a continued drop into the first 6 months of 2022. They see this as a hopeful sign that people should notice and apply.

The figures were mainly driven by sharp drops among the members of the Marine Corps and the Air Force. They credit the decline with the increased attention they’re giving and have issued these programs to high ranking officers and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

According to the data they gathered, the number of suicides happening in the Air Force and Marine Corp has lowered by more than 30 percent in 2021. They compared the figures with 2020, and this was when they saw a 10 percent decline with the Navy. As for the Army, the researchers also saw a similar 30 percent decrease during the first six months of 2022, a figure they compared to the same time period the year before.

In reality, all the members of these services have been struggling to combat the very complicated issue of suicide that has happened throughout the ranks. Aside from that, these sectors also had to simultaneously deal with the dual challenges of having not enough staff that’s focused on mental healthcare. Then, there’s also the stigma that goes with seeking professional help. Many of them are just too embarrassed to open up and have an expert assist them during such a difficult time.

PBS has reported on this issue and right now, the services have been taking more and more advantage of military chaplains, health and fitness coaches, and other support staff when it comes to suicide prevention and mental health care programs.

“The amount of attention that we’re paying to it, I think, is hopefully—we’re cautiously optimistic — what is translating into the downward trend,” Yvette Bourcicot said to the AP on Thursday.. She is the acting assistant Army secretary for manpower.

The Pentagon is also working on filling a new force comprised of a total of 2,000 mental healthcare workers. Until that happens, some senior officers have mandated the soldiers to visit a councilor often and as needed.

Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, for instance, required a yearly visit with the councilors at his post on Fort Riley, Kansas. All except 10 of the 14,000 staff utilized this and had their 60-minute session to talk.

“I can’t order anybody to talk to a counselor,” he said right before leaving his post. “But I can tell you, listen, you’ve got to sit in a room for 30 to 60 minutes. And there happens to be a counselor in the same room.”

GNN is also donating a case of books (…And Now, The Good News) to the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida, to help fight depression. This was a part of their 25^th anniversary celebration.

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They say that laughter is the best medicine. While some may feel that this old adage may be overused, it has endured the years because there is truth to it. Laughter is truly good for the soul. It lifts you up at your lowest and reminds you that there is still so much hope.

This is what people need – a good dose of laughter. Standup comedians are there to give them the much-needed relief to the cruelties of the world. In fact, these artists have even inspired many to follow in their footsteps and try it out on their own.

The UK’s public health services have started to see the significance of comedy and have officially prescribed stand-up comedy classes to men at risk of suicide. These are men that are victims of mental trauma or depression. They saw just how important it was after they observed the pilot program saw that it had been extremely successful.

While stand-up is not as simple as it seems, this has been quite an affective avenue. Yes, speaking in front of an audience can be one of the hardest and scariest things someone can do, but entertainment through humor is also one of the most innate ways a person is able to process past trauma.

While social activists have fought for decades and fought some topics to be banned altogether, British comedian Angie Belcher has proven to them that those who are willing to explore their personal history through comedy often makes them “stronger and more resilient.”

Belcher is the pioneer behind Comedy on Referral. This is a six-week course for trauma survivors in Bristol that has become the fortunate recipient of the National Health Service (NHS) funding. They are now looking into expanding their programs to London to help men who are at risk of suicide.

Belcher, who describes herself on Twitter as a “Comedian in Residence,” also founded AFTERMIRTH Comedy Club, a club that celebrates parenthood and helps fight post-natal depression with the help of standup comedy.

She explained Comedy on Referral to the Guardian, and why this can be powerful when it comes to changing the trauma survivors’ mentalities, and in essence, even their lives. “My course for trauma victims encourages them to process their trauma in a different way, so they can change who the victim is and choose the narrative. They can actually go right down into ‘This is what I was thinking and then this thing happened to me’,” said Belcher.

“This enables survivors to consciously use comedy to change their perspective of their experiences, but it also puts them in a physically powerful position because being on stage is very powerful,” she added.

Just very recently, the North West London Integrated Care System, which is the bigger partner of the various NHS trusts, rewarded Belcher’s efforts. They provided her with a grant. It is with hope and optimism and through this, they will be able to lower the British suicide rate by as much as 10 percent. And while they admittedly haven’t done anything like this in the past, they very much look forward to see what the future holds. They’re hopeful and optimistic with everything that’s come to pass.

A total of 20 men who are over the age of 18 years old and who have had suicidal episodes are currently enrolled with Belcher’s program. She works hand in hand with psychologists to make sure that they don’t step beyond the boundaries between what’s funny and what can be triggering. This is to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

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People who suffer from depression need help. They constantly find themselves in a dark place, and when they get there, many are unable to fight their way back to the surface.

People who suffer from depression need intervention and understanding. Their minds are unable to control the moods they get into. Hence, it’s sometimes up to science to find the solution.

Scientists and health experts have been studying the brain for years. They truly want to understand how this complex matter works. This is especially vital for those who suffer from depression. Recently, researchers have uncovered method that makes use of deep brain stimulation to ward off depression – and as of right now, they know that it centers around the patient’s mood.

Researchers have probed the brain for years. They have tried to solve problems by using probes and targeting areas with electrical shocks in order to treat clinical depression. It is only recently that their efforts have paid off. It seems as if this has been a successful mode of treatment, even while the earlier studies yielded limited and varying results. Now, a case study made in the University of California San Francisco was published in the journal Nature Medicine. In it, the experts in the research team made use of electrical stimulation that has profound antidepressant effects. They also discovered that the shocks administered should be meticulously tailored to the patient’s specific case. It all depends on the person’s specific moods and the symptoms that go with it.

A volunteer in the study actually shared the experience. The 36-year old woman says that she suffered from severe depression and said after the experience, “I’ve tried literally everything, and for the first few days I was a little worried that this wasn’t going to work. But then when they found the right spot, it was like the Pillsbury Doughboy when he gets poked in the tummy and has that involuntary giggle.”

The volunteer also added, “I hadn’t really laughed at anything for maybe five years, but I suddenly felt a genuine sense of glee and happiness, and the world went from shades of dark gray to just — grinning.”

In the case studied performed in the university, the doctors were able to provide the three important brain regions in which they could zap to help stave off depression. They only found one region that worked effectively when the patient was in a specific mental state. If they do it otherwise, the opposite effect happened. Once the researchers had worked out all the details crucial to the neurostimulation, the patient was able to complete the study after ten days and remained upbeat and happy for six weeks. After that, the patient has now gotten similar stimulation from an implant they had placed on her. The said implant was able to deliver imperceptible shocks once it sensed the need. She now reports that she is finally able to live her life to the fullest and enjoy it for the first time in years. This has made a vast difference to the quality of her life.

Study co-author and UCSF psychiatrist Katherine Scangos said in the press release, “We hope that providing gentle neuromodulation throughout each day will be able to prevent patients from falling into long-lasting depressive episodes.”

While the case study only had one participant, the researchers and the UCSF scientists are using this as a pilot for the upcoming clinical trial they’ll be conducting. This time, they will have more volunteers, each one will have a neurostimulation that will be specifically and personally designed for their specific needs and mental issues.

Senior study author and UCSF psychiatrist Andrew Krystal spoke in a press release and said, “Our trial is going to be groundbreaking in that every person in the study is potentially going to get a different, personalized treatment.” She further explained, “And we will be delivering treatment only when personalized brain signatures of a depressed brain state indicate treatment is needed.”

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For years, hallucinogenic drugs like LSD, psilocybin and dimethyltryptamine(DMT) have been banned from any form of use. But in more recent years, there has been a major shift in their use from psychedelic to medical.

In fact, researchers from the United Kingdom have been given the go-ahead to use DMT in their very first clinical trial, all to figure out whether it can be used to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including depression. DMT, which is also called ‘the spirit molecule’ amongst other names, has been used illegally for years, and it’s actually known to give the user a major visionary trip or hallucination. It’s something that has been used for years for shamanic rituals in South America as well.

A report was released in The Guardian in early December of 2020 where the drug received the go signal by the Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In the early stages of the trial, it will be given to healthy individuals, but the following trial will include patients that happen to suffer from depression. Patients will be given DMT alongside psychotherapy.

According to the chief medical and scientific officer at Small Pharma, Carol Routledge, using DMT before therapy is considered ‘similar to shaking up a snow globe before letting the flakes settle.’ She also shared that the trial will run alongside the Imperial College in London as well.

Routledge explained, “The psychedelic drug breaks up all of the ruminative thought processes in your brain – it literally undoes what has been done by either the stress you’ve been through or the depressive thoughts you have – and hugely increases the making of new connections.”

“Then the [psychotherapy] session afterwards is the letting-things-settle piece of things – it helps you to make sense of those thoughts and puts you back on the right track.”

“We think this could be a treatment for a number of depressive disorders besides major depression, including PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and possibly some types of substance abuse,” she added.

DMT goes by a few names, although ‘spirit molecule’ is the most popular. Some of its other street names is Dimitri, Fantasia, Businessman’s Trip and Forty-Five- minute psychosis, which honestly, speaks volumes. Because of its highly potent hallucinogenic properties, it has been used in ayahuasca, which is a brew used in shamanistic rituals for over hundreds of centuries in South America. But eventually, the drug found its way into Europe and North America as a recreational drug, used much like LSD and psilocybin, or ‘magic mushrooms.’ Although the hit or “trip”- as it’s otherwise called – is much shorter in comparison to the other drugs.

Much like psilocybin and acid, DMT is still considered a Class A drug by British authorities. This means that it’s on the same level as heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. If someone is caught in possession of any of these substances, they can face a penalty of up to seven years in jail or even life imprisonment for drug trafficking.

The UK researchers are hoping to begin their first DMT trials by January. The study will involve 32 healthy volunteers that have never taken any psychedelic drugs, not even ketamine or ecstasy. They will be given the lowest possible dose of the drug to give them a psychedelic experience. Meanwhile, the second trial will involve 36 patients, all of whom suffer from clinical depression.

Notably, DMT isn’t the first hallucinogenic drug to be used in a clinical trial. Not too long ago, magic mushrooms were also tested in a study for use in therapeutic settings. A study that was held back in December of 2016 in NYU showed that just a single dose of psilocybin quickly lessens feelings of anxiety and depression in cancer patients, with few side effects at that. The difference with DMT is that the effects are said to be way more intense and come on quickly, but they also end much faster than the other drugs.

Unlike DMT, psilocybin treatment can take all day since the effects last for a lengthened period of time, which makes them a major commitment for patients. DMT, on the other hand, will probably just take a couple of hours. According to the CEO of Small Pharma, Peter Rands,“We expect DMT to be rapid-acting, equivalent or perhaps even better than psilocybin, so within hours of a session you will get rapid relief [from your depression]. We also expect the effect to be sustained over a similar time period.”

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Doctors, scientists and researchers have been studying the human anatomy for hundreds of centuries, but very recently, a group of medical researchers  have made an astonishing discovery. Apparently there’s a new organ that happens to be located in the center of the human head, one that’s been there the whole time just waiting to be found.

The discovery was reported in Radiotherapy and Oncology, where researchers reported that doctors in the Netherlands accidentally encountered the organ. They were examining 100 patients for prostate cancer using a progressive type of scan known as the PSMA PET/CT. When this scan is used alongside radioactive glucose injections, tumors within the body are highlighted.

It was during these scans when the researchers would find something else burrowed within the rear of the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx is described as the upper portion of the throat behind the nose. It is also one part of three within the pharynx, and it works as an airway in the respiratory system. The nasopharynx also contains the adenoids, also known as pharyngeal tonsils.

According to researchers, the new organ looks like a baffling set of salivary glands hidden within the human head. It’s shocking to most that this mysterious body part was only discovered in 2020, having been missed for hundreds of years. Before this new organ was discovered, there were only three known major salivary glands, namely the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands.

According to Wouter Vogel, a radiation oncologist from the Netherlands Cancer Institute where the organ was discovered, explained, “People have three sets of large salivary glands, but not there. As far as we knew, the only salivary or mucous glands in the nasopharynx are microscopically small, and up to 1,000 are evenly spread out throughout the mucosa. So, imagine our surprise when we found these.”

But since the discovery, a fourth gland can now be added to the list, which is located behind the nose and above the palate. Notably, the location is also close to the center of the human head.

First author of the study, oral surgeon Matthijs Valstar from the University of Amsterdam said, “The two new areas that lit up turned out to have other characteristics of salivary glands as well. We call them tubarial glands, referring to their anatomical location [above the torus tubarius].” 

Incredibly, these tubarial glands were seen in every single one of the 100 PSMA PET/CT scans done on the patients, which revealed the ‘visible draining duct openings towards the nasopharyngeal wall.’

The researchers also wrote in the paper, “To our knowledge, this structure did not fit prior anatomical descriptions.”

The researchers also felt compelled to note that there are approximately 1,000 additional minor salivary glands that sit all throughout the oral cavity and digestive tract. But according to Scientific Alert, these cannot be seen though without a microscope.

According to researchers, this newly detected organ was probably missed all these years due to its incredibly poor anatomical location, being quite inaccessible since it’s under the base of the skull. Medical professionals also note that they may have noticed the duct openings before without realizing that the structures were actually a part of a bigger gland system. It was only due to modern technology that allows advanced PSMA-PET/CT imaging techniques, granting researchers the chance to finally see the macroscopical organ.

Although the study will still need to be repeated and validated, one pathologist explains that if it’s authenticated, it could completely change the way the medical world sees diseases in that portion of the skull.

While she wasn’t part of the original study, pathologist Valeria Fitzhugh from Rutgers University told the New York Times, “It seems like they may be onto something. If it’s real, it could change the way we look at disease in this region.” And at the same time, the study also shares that sparing these glands during radiotherapy could even improve quality of life.

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Researchers at the world’s first psychedelic center, Centre of Psychedelic Research at London’s Imperial College said that “magic mushrooms” or otherwise known as psilocybin could completely replace antidepressants that doctors have been prescribing within the next five years.

This opinionated theory is also agreed upon by similar researched released from John Hopkins University, that says victims that have experienced emotional traumas may have a longer term relief when ingesting natural psilocybin fungi, instead of anti-depressant prescribed drugs.

Head of the research center, Dr. Robin Earhart-Harris is conducting one of the very first trials in order to investigate the outcome of therapy involving magic mushrooms – which as of this moment is still illegal in the UK – as compared to the effects of chemical drugs. These trials have resulted in cathartic emotional “release.” This was compared to the usual effects of anti-depressants that provide a dull and “blunted” effect to the patients. This study was the first of many that are planning to be conducted at London’s Imperial College.

In the trial, there were 60 participants that had moderate to severe depression who were given psilocybin treatment. A clinical psychologist also conducted a therapy session with each of them. Some participants will be randomly chosen to receive the fungi, or placebo. The researchers nor the participants will know who receives what in the group.

The effects of the fungi will be compared to the anti-depressant escitalopram, which is a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Most of the chemical drugs available in the market is made of this.

Dr. Carhart Harris told the Independent that “if you ask people who are taking SSRIs chronically, they often say ‘I feel blunted’. With psilocybin therapy they say the opposite, they talk about an emotional release, a reconnection, and this key emotional centre being more responsive.” The description for blunted means that both the patient’s positive and negative emotions were suppressed.

Indications seen in MRI studies suggest that the side-effects of the psychedelics on the brain is “twice as long” for escitalopram as compared to psilocybin therapy. The fungi also acts much faster than the anti-depressant, which sometimes takes months to finally take effect.

Dr. Earhart-Harris says that this therapy isn’t made for everybody. There are people with psychosis and regulators that perhaps need more evidence of the safety and effectiveness of this alternative through other clinical trials. Everyone else could be a potential candidate in the future. In fact, the 2018 Global Drug Survey did state that magic mushrooms are the safest recreational drug to be ingested.

“I would imagine if you had some bookmakers doing the odds, there would be strong odds on that [psychedelic therapy] will be licensed sometime in the next five to 10 years – maybe sooner. The implications of that are actually frightening to me, thinking of the power and influence of big p*****. What are they going to do with that if there’s this big public demand for the ‘mushroom therapy’, and not the Prozac?” Dr. Carhart-Harris said.

The anti-depressant drug market is such a lucrative business that in ten years, the demand for the chemical drugs in the U.K. alone has doubled. According the Columbia University’s Milaman School of Public Health, the use of anti-anxiety medication and anti-depressants soared in the United States from 2005 to 2015. By 2023, it is estimated that the anti-depressant drug market will reach $15.98 billion worth, according to Allied Market Research.

If the clinical trials and further research can prove the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin therapy, other cities will most likely follow the lead of Denver, Colorado – a huge move that will definitely rock the boat of Big P*****.

Dr. James Rucker, a fellow researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience in King’s College London who has been studying the benefits of psychedelics said that there is a “possibility” that fungi could possibly be prescribed instead of anti-anxiety medication within the next five years. “But only if everything goes to plan, and you know what they say about best-laid plans. Like all treatments, they will suit some people but not others. The trick, as ever, is trying to work that out before administration. But that trick has proven to be remarkably difficult to pull off, particularly in psychiatry,” he added.

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With Covid-19 having changed the course of the world as we know it, it may sound silly and downright absurd that there are still discussions being had about whether people should wear masks or not in order to lessen the spread of Covid-19. A bunch of researchers from the University of New South Wales decided to finally put the theory to a test by using an LED lighting system and a high-speed camera to see just how effective a few different face masks actually are, and the results were staggering.

The scientists that did the study said, “If you’re not sure whether wearing a face mask is worth it, or you need to wear a mask but are unsure which type, our new research should help you decide.”

The research entailed taking videos of individuals that were talking, coughing and sneezing while using different face coverings. The video shows four different scenarios – one person with no mask, two people wearing two different types of cloth masks, and the last person wearing a surgical mask.

The first portion of the video shows what happens when the four individuals were asked to talk, being told to count from one to ten. The second portion films the four people coughing, while the last part shows them sneezing. As seen in the video, the person using the surgical mask showed the least amount of droplets and aerosols being released from his mouth into the air as compared to the other three individuals in the video. According to the researchers, while the surgical mask is the most effective, “a cloth mask is the next best thing.”  The video proved that the masks that had more layers were better than those with less.

The scientists used a high-speed camera and LED lighting system to film the study, which was the best tool to help the researchers visualize exactly how the droplets spread, which are otherwise normally invisible. The study also proved that it isn’t just coughing and sneezing that generates a tremendous amount of droplets, but that simply talking does to. It’s just that coughing and sneezing produces even more.

Another factor that the researchers were able to see was that although cloth masks with single layers still manage to lessen the spread of droplets, they are not as effective as cloth masks with two layers. But surgical masks have the best effectivity of all three of the masks tested in the video. The researchers went on to share that 12-layered cloth masks are ‘about as protective as a surgical mask’ but they “acknowledge it’s difficult to sew together 12 layers of fabric.”

For those that prefer to use cloth masks, the researchers recommend the following tips to make their cloth masks more beneficial to their users. They suggest to take three layers and sew them together, using water-resistant fabric for the outside layer. Choose fabrics that have a tighter weave, and be sure to use hybrid materials like cotton-silk, cotton-chiffon, or cotton-flannel, which all provide better filtration all around.

See the actual video results of the study below:

Meanwhile, there were also a few reactions from netizens after seeing the video. For most of them, the sarcasm is palpable. Here they are below:

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Alzheimer’s disease is a condition which is a form of dementia, that affects around 44 million people around the world, with an estimated 5.5 million people in the US alone. And there is no real cure for the disease, though some drugs can stall the onset of Alzheimer’s, there is nothing that can stop it from progressing. It is also the 6th leading cause of death in the US, more potent than people killed by breast and prostate cancer combined.

Virtually all new treatments have failed in clinical trials. Shannon Macauley, a neuroscientist at Wake Forest School of Medicine says, “We really don’t have much to offer people.” Those who have loved ones with the disease know the stress and difficulty that comes with it, some eventually lose hope and their ability to continue living with their stricken loved ones. It is sad and unfortunate, but a reality. But there is some research going on that may bring hope for the afflicted and their families.

Neuroscientists at MIT seem to be making progress in a simple yet “magical” project. It involves work imitating the healthy rhythmic patterns, or brain waves, that operate at different frequencies. Gamma brain waves oscillate between 30 to 100 Hz and are known to decrease in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s. The study experimented on mice suffering from the disease by flashing light 40 times a second into their eyes, which treated their Alzheimer’s. Another amazing part of the study was that added sound of a similar frequency dramatically improved the results. It seems the truth about healing frequencies is now being more appreciated.

The non-invasive treatment also reduced the number of amyloid plaques found in the brains of these mice. The plaques that were cleared affected cognitive functions such as memory and learning. Li-Huei Tsai, one of the MIT researchers said, “When we combine visual and auditory stimulation for a week, we see the engagement of the prefrontal cortex and a very dramatic reduction of amyloid.” However, the study also pointed out that mice treated for one week, and then performing the tests after another week, showed that the positive effects faded. This means that the treatment needs to be given continuously to benefit the subjects.

Tsai used a frequency ranging around 40 Hz, which is a sound just high enough for humans to hear. A side effect was that it also helped clear the nearby hippocampus, an essential area of the brain associated with memory. The treated mice seemed to perform better in a range of cognitive tasks. The findings showed an overall neuroprotective effect, even in the later stages of neurodegeneration. Whether the same effects can be achieved from mice to men is still something that is being studied. Nancy Kopell, professor of mathematics and statistics at Boston University explained, “Though there are important differences among species, there is reason to be optimistic that these methods can provide useful interventions for humans.” Sure, more studies are needed, but the future looks “bright” for those suffering from Alzheimer’s. Hopefully it works just as good with us humans.

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