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Science Explains 5 Things People Do for Healthy Skin That Don’t Actually Work

March 11, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Your daily skincare routine has a significant effect on your skin’s health. Your weekly facial mask routine won’t matter much if you don’t properly care for your skin daily. However, sometimes, the products you use for healthy skin do more harm than good.

Many people want glowing, radiant skin, and they’ll do anything to achieve it. If you’re one of us, you might switch your products out often to see if something else works better. You might be drawn to facial scrubs your friends swear by, but it’s not always to your benefit.

Many people assume skincare myths are true, hindering their chance at obtaining healthy skin. While you do things to achieve healthy skin, your actions might do the opposite and make things worse. Your skin is a delicate organ, and experimenting with it isn’t ideal.

If your routine consists of any of the myths discussed below, it’s time to make a change. Once you know which habits aren’t improving your skin health, you can learn what to do instead.

Five Things People Do for Healthy Skin That Don’t Actually Work

Avoid these skincare habits–you are wasting time. Besides that, you might even be doing more harm than good.

1. Not Using Enough Sunscreen

Everyone needs sunscreen, no matter your pigmentation or resiliency to burning. As you apply your sunscreen, you must use enough of it. Many people only use a pea-sized amount of sunscreen on their face to still get color.

However, a pea-sized amount of sunscreen is not enough to protect your skin. You must apply about half of a teaspoon or more for your face alone. This amount of sunscreen will give you the perfect coverage to protect your skin from UV rays.

Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen if you want to maintain healthy skin. Experts recommend reapplying every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating heavily.

2. Relying on Facial Wipes or Toner and Not Cleansing After

You might think using a facial wipe to remove your makeup at the end of the day is enough, but it’s not. You must wash your face with a mild cleanser after removing your makeup.

The makeup wipes don’t remove dirt and buildup from your skin and pores, so don’t skip it, or it can hinder your epidermis functions. Plus, some makeup wipes leave a film of residue on your skin containing alcohol, fragrance, solubilizers, and surfactants. If you don’t wash these ingredients off, they can irritate and dry out your skin.

Additionally, don’t rely on toner as a facial cleanser, either. Toner is for after cleansing to soothe your skin and restore the pH balance.

3. Using Alkaline Facial Cleansers for Healthy Skin

Alkaline facial cleansers have pH levels 6.0 and higher, stripping your skin of natural oil. They make your skin tight and give you the feeling of having spotless skin.

However, alkaline products cause your skin to produce more oil to make up for what is lost. Your skin becomes more bacteria-prone, and your breakouts will likely worsen.

Not only do alkaline facial cleansers remove natural oil, but they also destroy the moisture barrier. Aim for a cleanser with a pH level of around 5.0. It will help decrease sebum production and repair your moisture barrier.

4. Using Just Anything, and Avoid Using Many Products at Once

You might see a product advertised online with promises to solve all your problems. However, everyone has different skin, so what works for one person might not work for you. It could worsen your condition, instead.

Be careful not to use anything that you aren’t sure of. You might want to try an all-natural skin remedy, but you never know how your skin will react. Your skin is fragile, and you must treat it with care. Only use products that you know are safe and be wary of home remedies unless you know you aren’t allergic.

Additionally, you shouldn’t use too many products at one time. You might think it’s beneficial to layer your skin with many products, hoping to solve many issues at once. However, it could quickly cause an adverse effect.

5. Over-exfoliating or Using Abrasive Scrubs

Exfoliating your skin is beneficial, but you must be careful when you do it. First, avoid exfoliating too much because overdoing it can cause skin irritation. Don’t exfoliate more than twice weekly to remove dead skin cells and achieve glowing skin.

Additionally, don’t use overly abrasive exfoliating scrubs. You don’t have to remove an entire layer of skin to exfoliate properly, and it’ll cause more damage if you do. Giant exfoliating beads cause skin tears and inhibit healing, damaging it rather than making it healthier.

Over-exfoliating doesn’t only cause skin tears, either. It also dries your skin out and reduces the natural barrier and nutrients.

In turn, your skin becomes oilier as it produces extra sebum to compensate for what your product removed. You’ll experience more clogged pores and breakouts than you did before you started exfoliating.

Nine Healthy Skin Remedies That Work

Now that you know some of your skincare habits aren’t helping, it’s time to learn what you can do instead. These remedies for healthy skin can help you achieve the glowing and mostly blemish-free face you desire.

1. Use Sunscreen Daily

Even if it’s cloudy or cold outside, you must wear sunscreen. With regular sunscreen use, you’ll show signs of aging slower than others. Plus, you’ll protect yourself from the harmful effects of UV rays.

2. Avoid Picking at Your Skin

Popping pimples or poking at blackheads won’t make them disappear. Instead, it’ll make them last longer and become more discolored. Plus, if you pick at it, the discoloration will last longer, even after the pimple goes away.

While picking at your blemishes is tempting, keep your hands away from your face. You add more oil, dirt, and bacteria every time you pick at your skin.

3. Use a Gentle Exfoliator

Exfoliating is great for your skin when you do it with care. Choose a gentle exfoliator and use it twice a week. Removing dead cells will make your skin smooth, clear, and well-balanced. Regular exfoliating also helps your skin absorb your other products better. If those products are worthwhile, you’ll want to make sure they penetrate your pores for the best effects.

4. Use Topical Retinoids

Topical retinoids treat acne, psoriasis, and some cancers. They also promote cell turnover and stimulate collagen production. One of the best products you can use is retinoids because they slow the effects of aging and keep your skin healthy.

5. Avoid Smoking

Smoking cigarettes restricts the blood vessels near your skin’s surface, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, it speeds up aging and makes your skin look dull. It also slows the production of collagen, a protein that makes your skin resilient and smooth. If you avoid smoking, you’ll notice fewer lines and wrinkles around your eyes and mouth.

6. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep can make all the difference in the health of your skin. If you don’t get eight hours of sleep at night, it can cause skin inflammation and exacerbate acne. It can worsen conditions like Rosacea and make your skin age faster.

7. Drink Plenty of Water

Your body needs water to function, essential to your overall health. Drinking plenty of water also improves your skin health by keeping you hydrated. With hydrated skin, it’ll appear dewy and look like you’re glowing.

8. Remove Your Makeup Before Sleeping or Working Out

Washing your makeup off before bed can lead to beautiful, healthy skin. Sleeping in makeup promotes breakouts, increased pores, and free radical damage to your skin. If you prioritize removing your makeup, you will prevent these issues from occurring altogether.

Additionally, always take your makeup off before working out. When you have sweat on your skin and wipe it off during your workout, it can push makeup into your pores. Plus, washing your face before working out prevents dirt, dead cells, and other debris from entering.

9. Use the Best Products for Your Skin Type

Don’t switch products frequently; you’ll need time to see if one works for your skin. Avoid using many at the same time, as well. Instead, find what works best for your skin type and stick to it.

Then, develop a skincare routine and don’t skip it when you don’t feel like washing your face. Force yourself to go through the steps each night, and you’ll quickly see an improvement in your skin health.

Final Thoughts on Science Explains Five Things People Do for Healthy Skin That Don’t Actually Work

Sometimes the things you do for healthy skin don’t work. Many times, these habits can worsen your condition and exacerbate symptoms. Your skin is delicate, so treat it that way each day. Now that you know which habits you should break, implement some tips for improving skin health. You’ll find that they work much better in improving the appearance of your skin, and it’ll feel better, too.

UK City Finds Way to Help Restore the Declining Native Bee Population

March 11, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

In Brighton, England, the council passed a mandate that new buildings use “bee bricks” to help the bee population recover. Bees have been dying at record rates globally due to pollution, pesticides, habitat destruction, and climate change. However, considering nature when constructing our cities could help them come back.

In Brighton, the construction initiative would include new buildings taller than five meters. The bee bricks look like blocks of Swiss cheese with many small holes to create homes for nesting bees. These offer an ideal habitat for 250 of the 270 bee species known as solitary bees in Britain.

As the name suggests, they like to nest alone, often building their homes in the ground. Some, however, prefer to seek out small holes in buildings for their shelter.

Sadly, the bee population in the UK has been rapidly declining since the 1970s. Between 1985 and 2005, honeybee hives have reduced by 50%, and since 1900, 13 bee species have gone extinct. 35 more face the threat of extinction this century due to environmental pressures.

Planting flowers rich in nectar can help bee populations recover. But in dense cities, this isn’t always an option. Bee bricks offer a solution that allows bees and humans to coexist in urban areas.

“Bee bricks are just one of quite a number of measures that really should be in place to address biodiversity concerns that have arisen through years of neglect of the natural environment,” said Robert Nemeth, the town councilor behind the initiative first proposed in 2019.

UK City Finds Ways to Help Restore the Declining Native Bee Population

However, some experts believe the bee bricks may do more harm than good. Some have said the holes aren’t big enough to support a nest and that the bricks won’t help bee populations recover. Others say the bricks may attract mites or parasites and require regular cleaning to prevent disease spread.

Luckily, some studies have found that bees nest in bee bricks with holes as small as 5-8mm wide and 70-80mm deep. Some scientists say bees will naturally avoid dangerous nesting areas as far as the mites. They added that the mites would leave after a couple of seasons, and the bricks wouldn’t need cleaning because of beneficial microbes.

Lars Chittka, a professor in sensory and behavioral ecology at Queen Mary University, told The Guardian that bees “naturally possess hygienic behavior that would allow them to mitigate the risks at least to some extent, or that they would assess the holes’ states before using them, which should to some extent counterbalance the risks that come with such long-term nesting opportunities.”

Of course, it will take a few years of studying the bee bricks to determine their effectiveness. However, it’s encouraging those city councils are beginning to consider biodiversity in their building initiatives.

In addition to the bee bricks, the Brighton city council also included “swift bricks” in the mandate. The bricks have a larger hole in them to provide a habitat for nesting birds, such as swifts. Before migrating to Africa, these tiny birds spend a few months in the UK per year. The government consulted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to determine ideal placement for the swift bricks.

How You Can Help Bee Populations Flourish

If you’re inspired by the UK’s initiative to help declining bee populations, you can also participate in their recovery. In addition to considering bee bricks in the construction of new homes and offices, you can encourage bee recovery by planting a garden. This act of kindness benefits us since bees are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat. Simply put, we need bees to survive, so it’s in our best interest to give them a healthy habitat.

To plant a pollinator garden in your backyard, follow these tips:

Make sure to plant only native or non-invasive species. Most pollinators have adapted to feed on specific plants native to their environment. As a bonus, local plants usually require less water than ornamentals.
Encourage diversity in your garden. If we want thriving bee populations, it’s essential to ensure they access abundant pollen and nectar. A beautiful garden teeming with life will attract more bees to your backyard.
Choose flowers that bloom throughout the growing season and plant large patches to better foraging.
Plant various species to attract not just bees but other pollinators like butterflies! Monarchs have made an enormous comeback recently, and perhaps the rise in backyard gardens played a role.
Don’t use pesticides or insecticides since these chemical poisons can kill pollinators. If you have a biodiverse garden, animals will naturally help manage pests.
Keep areas of sunny, bare soil since bees often like to nest underground.
Leave small branches, hollow twigs, rotted logs or tree stumps, and decaying plant material in your garden. These also make lovely homes for nesting bees.

As we evolve as a species, we’ve realized the importance of coexisting with nature. After all, we’re dependent on Earth for our survival, so we should tread lightly and take care of our home. Since we rely on bees for much of our food, it’s essential to protect them from environmental threats. Luckily, it seems we’re turning things around and taking steps to restore nature in all its beauty.

Final Thoughts on How Bee Bricks are Restoring Bee Populations

In the UK, the city council decided to mandate that all new buildings taller than 5 meters must have bee bricks. These bricks have small holes bored in them that allow bees to nest. In addition, they will install swift bricks in buildings to provide habitats for tiny birds such as swifts. These initiatives offer hope for our world and show what we can accomplish by helping nature thrive.

Even though the world seems chaotic and turbulent, we’re making great strides to heal our planet. As we leave behind destructive ways of living, we’re ushering in a new, exciting era of compassion and restoration. And we can all take part in this paradigm shift.

MS May Stem from Epstein-Barr Virus, Harvard Study Reveals

March 11, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

A groundbreaking Harvard study reveals that an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may lead to multiple sclerosis (MS). MS affects nearly 3 million people globally and currently has no cure. However, most people infected with Epstein-Barr will not develop MS.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers led the study, published online in Science.

“The hypothesis that EBV causes MS has been investigated by our group and others for several years, but this is the first study providing compelling evidence of causality,” said Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard Chan School and senior author of the study. “This is a big step because it suggests that most MS cases could be prevented by stopping EBV infection, and that targeting EBV could lead to the discovery of a cure for MS.”

Multiple sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease, affects the central nervous system by damaging the myelin sheaths protecting spinal cord and brain neurons. When the immune system attacks these nerve fibers and protective coverings, it leads to inflammation. This alters electrical signals in the brain, disrupting communication between the brain and the body.

Scientists haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause of MS but believe EBV is a likely culprit. Epstein-Barr, a herpes virus, can cause highly infectious mononucleosis and lies dormant throughout the host’s lifetime.

So far, it’s been difficult to determine a causal relationship between EBV and MS. Firstly, MS affects a relatively small population, and the onset of MS symptoms usually occurs ten years after an EBV infection.

Researchers believe this study finally proves a link between the two conditions.

MS May Stem from Epstein-Barr Virus, Harvard Study Reveals

To establish the correlation between EBV and MS, researchers performed a study with over 10 million young adults actively serving in the US military. They determined that 955 had been diagnosed with MS during their active duty.

The team then analyzed serum samples taken every other year by the military. Using these samples, they could determine if a soldier had EBV when the first sample was taken. They also established the relationship between EBV infection and the onset of MS symptoms in active-duty soldiers.

The researchers determined that the risk of multiple sclerosis increased 32-fold following an EBV infection. However, it did not increase after an infection of other viruses. Serum levels of the neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of nerve deterioration caused by MS, only increased after an EBV infection.

Other risk factors for MS couldn’t explain these findings, suggesting EBV as the leading cause of MS. Ascherio says the delayed onset of MS following an EBV infection may result from undetected or mild symptoms. Because MS can mimic other diseases in its early stages, it often gets misdiagnosed.

Common Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis Include the Following:

vision problems, such as blurred, double, or loss of vision
tingling and numbness in the face, arms, legs, and fingers
pain in the legs, back, limbs, and joints
involuntary muscle spasms
weakness or fatigue due to muscle atrophy or nerve damage
dizziness, vertigo, and coordination problems
bladder and bowel dysfunction
sexual dysfunction
cognitive decline, such as memory problems, trouble focusing, and shorter attention span
emotional distress, which may include depression, anxiety, irritability, and/or mood swings

Diagnosing and Treating MS

A neurologist will likely perform these tests to diagnose MS:

Comprehensive neurological exam: This involves a cranial nerve exam (vision, hearing, facial sensation, strength, swallowing), reflexes, coordination, and balance.
MRI: Doctors consider this the best technique to diagnose MS. It uses powerful magnets and radio waves to detect any brain and spinal cord myelin damage.
Spinal fluid analysis: The doctor will insert a long needle into your spine to take a fluid sample. In people with multiple sclerosis, the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually has elevated protein levels called oligoclonal bands.

To make a diagnosis of MS, doctors must find evidence of nerve damage in at least two different areas. Also, they must determine that the damage occurred during more than one episode. Finally, they will attempt to rule out any other causes of the symptoms.

Since permanent neurological damage can occur even in early stages of MS, it’s important to see a doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms. As the disease progresses, relapses can become more unpredictable. However, doctors who detect the signs early can provide treatments to slow progression and manage symptoms.

Treatment for MS currently includes administering anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies via intravenous infusion. These antibodies reduce circulating memory B cells, where EBV infection usually remains dormant. However, since this therapy can increase infection risk, researchers say that targeting EBV directly would improve treatments.

Ascherio said this:

“Currently there is no way to effectively prevent or treat EBV infection, but an EBV vaccine or targeting the virus with EBV-specific antiviral drugs could ultimately prevent or cure MS.”

To reduce your risk of contracting EBV, avoid kissing or sharing drinks, food, or personal items with people diagnosed with EBV.

When dealing with medical conditions like EBV, it’s important to recognize that the quality of care you receive plays a crucial role in managing your health and preventing complications.

If you’re facing issues related to improper treatment or medication administration, such as an Incorrect Intramuscular Injection, it is essential to seek legal advice.

A skilled medical lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of medical malpractice cases where misadministration of vaccines or other treatments is involved. They can assist in gathering evidence to support your claim and ensure that your case is presented effectively.

Other Harvard Chan School researchers who participated in this study include Kjetil Bjornevik, Marianna Cortese, Michael Mina, and Kassandra Munger.

This groundbreaking study will hopefully lead to improved treatments for EBV. This, in turn, may help prevent multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that can have lifelong effects.

Final Thoughts on Study Linking MS With Epstein-Barr Virus

A new study by Harvard researchers discovered that MS likely stems from the Epstein-Barr virus. They found that infection of EBV increased the risk of MS 32-fold. Also, they determined that other viruses did not increase the risk of multiple sclerosis.

The study could have important implications for future EBV and MS treatments since targeting EBV could prevent or cure multiple sclerosis. There’s no vaccine for EBV, but researchers believe this would eliminate most MS cases. While other factors likely play a role in developing multiple sclerosis, the study marks an important step toward finding a cure.

Lucid Dreams: Facts, Fiction, and How to Experience Them Yourself

March 11, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Lucid dreams have become an increasingly popular topic in recent years, especially in young communities and social media. But the concept of being able to dictate your goals and control them as if you were awake can sound a little far-fetched! Some might even think that this is some new-fangled myth perpetrated by the internet.

In reality, lucid dreams are genuine, and they’re far from new. Eastern traditions have long considered dream state awareness necessary in certain beliefs and practices. Even Aristotle himself has described lucid dreaming in his writings. Essentially, we’ve known about lucid dreaming for thousands of years!

But it wasn’t until the 19th century that people began to study this event in a more official, academic manner. And it wasn’t until a few decades ago that experts discovered reliable and effective scientific measures that objectively study the phenomenon. As such, there’s still a lot to learn about this experience.

With all of that being said, you’re probably wondering just how you might be able to have a lucid dream. In this post, we’ll aim to help you better understand the cycles so you can distinguish facts from fiction and even try to experience them yourself!

1. What Are Lucid Dreams?

Lucid dreams are typically defined as dreams where the sleeper retains awareness of reality. This means that a sleeper knows that they’re in a dream but continues to experience the dream and can decide how they act in it. Sometimes, this includes controlling aspects of the dream, such as its direction, “plot,” or environment.

The phenomenon of lucid dreaming is not particularly understood or well-researched. As a result, there’s a lot that we don’t know about the concept and how it works. It’s theorized in some studies that lucid dreams develop due to activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex. Too little activity here could make it difficult for someone to be aware of a dream.

Your cortical activity is low when you can’t differentiate between a wake or sleep state. Lucid dreamers supposedly experience high cortical activity during dreams that are comparable to their state when awake. This is why, in some circles, lucid dreams are called hybrid sleep-wake states – you’re somewhere between those two experiences.

A majority of experiences related to lucid dreaming occur during REM sleep. REM stands for “rapid eye movement.” If you’ve ever seen someone’s eyelids moving around while they’re asleep, that’s likely the stage of sleep they were in. This is the final stage of a healthy, typical sleep cycle.

Typical visions can occur during any stage of sleep, but non-REM stages don’t facilitate lucid dreaming. Researchers believe that lucid dreams result from non-lucid dreams that originate in one of the three non-REM sleep stages and continue into the REM phase.

2. Myths About Lucid Dreams

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding lucid dreams. Here are some myths you may have heard about it and what the reality is:

· Myth: Lucid Dreams Are Rare

While not the most common experience, about 23% of people have a lucid dream monthly, according to research. This means that nearly one in four people that you’ve met have one of these experiences per month!

· Myth: You Need To Be Spiritual To Lucidly Dream

Lucid dreams happen to many people, including those who aren’t spiritual and aren’t trying to have a lucid dream. If you know how to encourage that phenomenon, you can experience it regardless of your spirituality.

· Myth: You Can Get Stuck In Lucid Dreams

It’s an understandable fear. The idea of being trapped in a dream world, never being able to return to reality, is the subject of many fictional movies, after all. But by its very nature, lucid dreaming allows you to wake yourself up because you’re aware that you’re dreaming.

· Myth: Young People Make Up Lucid Dreams

Given the prevalence of younger generations talking about lucid dreams, some have been quick to attribute this to a desire for attention. In reality, lucid dreams decrease in frequency as you age, say studies. This is why younger people may have these dreams more often than someone middle-aged.

· Myth: All Lucid Dreams Experience Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis can occur during REM sleep, but it’s not necessary to go through it to experience a lucid dream. Some techniques can increase the chances of experiencing waking sleep paralysis, but it’s not a universal experience.

· Myth: Dying In Lucid Dreams Is Dangerous

This speculation probably comes from fictional books, movies, and shows. Lucid dreams are just that – dreams. Whatever happens in them stays in them. While all dreams can be ways for your subconscious to contact you, they don’t dictate anything themselves.

· Myth: You Can Share Lucid Dreams With Other People

This is a bit of an overly fantastical idea. Maybe technology will allow the sharing of dreams eventually. But for now, this is entirely fictional.

3. Lucid Dream Induction Techniques

Those who want to experience this phenomenon can make use of scientific induction techniques. An induction technique is a method used to induce the desired outcome. In this case, that outcome would be successful. Here are the three most well-known ways to achieve that goal:

· Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)

MILD is probably one of the most studied lucid dream induction techniques. It was created in 1980 and was among the first to serve this process. The concept is based on setting an intention that you can act on later, also known as prospective memory. To use the MILD technique, you need to think of a recent dream while you’re in the process of falling asleep.

You then point out something strange about that dream that separates it from reality, such as having wings on your back. Then, think about the desire to return to the vision and remind yourself of that strange thing that will inform you that you’re dreaming. Finally, tell yourself that the next time you dream, you would like to remember that you’re dreaming. This is a great technique to use anytime, but it’s especially effective when you’ve just woken up in the middle of the night from a dream.

· Wake Back To Bed (WBTB)

The WBTB technique builds on the researched idea that the chance of lucid dreaming connects to general alertness over specifics. It involves attempting to induce REM sleep during consciousness. One common way to achieve this is by waking up five hours after bedtime.

Once you wake up at this point, you stay up for half an hour and perform a simple, quiet activity that requires your careful attention, like reading. Finally, after those thirty minutes, you go back to sleep. The goal is to put yourself back into REM sleep directly, simply immediately.

· Wake-Initiated Lucid Dreaming (WILD)

WILD is a complex induction technique that requires the creation of a hypnagogic hallucination. Essentially, you’re aiming to immediately enter a dream as soon as you leave the awake state. This allows for your brain to remain conscious as the rest of your physical body sleeps. The technique is hard to learn, as you’ll be hallucinating wilfully before bedtime, which comes with its own set of complications.

4. Tips For Experiencing Lucid Dreaming

Induction techniques on their own can be pretty effective, but there are additional ways to increase the chances of lucid dreams. Here are some great tips for incorporating into your daily life to encourage successful dreaming:

· Get More REM Sleep Through Good Sleep Hygiene

To arrive at the fourth and final stage of a sleep cycle, you have to be getting good quality sleep. It’s not always enough to get enough hours of sleep per night – you need that sleep to be high-quality. Sleep hygiene will help you here.

Sleep and wake at the exact times each day, avoid stimulating activities close to bedtime, and put screens away an hour before you turn in. You should also ensure a comfortable bedroom environment by reducing artificial light, reducing noise, and maintaining a cozy temperature for your preferences.

· Reality Checking

Reality checking is a variety of training for your brain. The goal is to rapidly boost your metacognitive abilities so that you can become even more aware of your well, awareness. This is useful for lucid dreams because the amount of metacognition you have during both states and wakefulness are almost the same.

As such, training that skill while awake translates to higher levels of that skill in dreams, or so studies suggest. Reality checking can be done during waking hours. Every two or three hours, ask if you’re dreaming while checking your environment. You must pay close attention to your consciousness, how you interact with your surroundings and take note of things that prove your wakefulness.

This can involve checking mirrors to guarantee a normal reflection, looking at your hands to ensure normality, or watching the clock to ensure time is passing as usual. Later on, when you’re dreaming, you’ll perform reality checking naturally and become aware that you’re in a dream.

· Dream Journaling

Dream diaries are an excellent way to make yourself remember various dreams. This allows you to easily take note of abnormalities and common signs you experience that reveal you’re not in reality. The more you log visions in a journal, the more adept you’ll become at noticing that you’re dreaming. Reading the journal will also help cement your knowledge of reality versus the dream world.

Final Thoughts On How To Experience Lucid Dreams Yourself

Lucid dreams are still shrouded in a lot of mystery. There are many myths surrounding them, and not everyone even believes they exist. And yet, they’re surprisingly common, and the chances are that you’ve experienced at least one in your life already.

Inducing lucid dreams involves a commitment to practicing induction techniques and adding certain habits to your everyday life to improve your chances. Patience is key to learning the proper methods. There are also plenty of communities online that can offer additional advice on how you can successfully experience this remarkable phenomenon.

Researchers Explain the Three Types of Tears (And What They Mean)

March 11, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Everyone cries from time to time, but did you know there are different types of tears? People cry when they are sad, happy, or sometimes they cry just because.

And crying is a bit of a controversial topic. Society has long characterized women as the weaker sex, so some label them as criers. Conversely, people label men as strong and tough, so they should never, under any circumstances, cry.

Or so society believed for a very long time. Tears are so common and normal for humans, yet so divisive at the same time. But most people don’t even know where tears come from, much less that there are three types of tears. But one thing is for sure: everyone cries. And not only is crying normal, but it’s not a sign of weakness.

No matter what stereotypes you have heard floating around, none of them are true. Kids who cry aren’t brats. Women who cry aren’t crazy and hormonal. And men who cry aren’t weak. And the sooner people learn the biological and psychological aspects behind tears. The sooner society might be able to normalize and understand crying.

Where Do These Types Of Tears Come From?

As you probably suspected, tears are made primarily out of water, and they have a similar structure to saliva. Besides water, they contain salt, oils, and about 1500 proteins. They also have electrolytes: sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, and potassium. They contain lower levels of magnesium and calcium. When you combine all these chemicals, you get three layers that make up the tears.

The mucous layer is the one that sticks the tear to the eye. The aqueous layer is the one that hydrates, repels bacteria, and protects the cornea. And the oily layer prevents the other two layers from evaporating. It also keeps the layers smooth so that you can see through them. All types of tears come from the lacrimal glands above your eyes. Once they form, they drain into your tear ducts, which are small holes in the inner corners of your eyes.

From there, they go down through your nasal bone, into the back of the nose, and back into the throat. They technically should not fall outside of the body. But, when you cry, you produce a surplus of tears, way too many for them to be able to go back through the nose. But some still do, and they mix with the mucus in the nose, so that’s why you get a runny nose when you cry. Every time you blink, a new layer of tears spreads across your cornea. So, if you think about it, you cry all the time.

One fun fact is that it’s virtually impossible to run out of tears. Your body produces somewhere between fifteen and thirty gallons of tears every year. But, as people get older, their body starts making a lower quantity of tears. That’s generally why getting older goes hand in hand with drier eyes. And this seems to be even more apparent in women after menopause, who produce fewer tears due to hormonal changes.

And, even though many researchers claim that women cry more, none had an apparent reason for why that is. Some say that in some places is due to cultural norms. Others say that it might be because men have smaller tear ducts. Others say that’s it’s because emotional tears contain prolactin, and women produce it 60% more than men. But, even though emotional tears are more common in women, the other two types are just as expected, no matter the sex.

The Three Types of Tears

This is so fascinating.

1. Basal Tears

The basal tears are the most common type of tears. They serve a functional role in the body. Without them, your eyes would dry out. Their purpose is to keep the eye lubricated so that you can blink and see. They also keep dust and other small, unwanted particles out of your eyes. Some substances that create tears, such as lysozyme, fight against bacterial infections.

The lacrimal glands continuously secrete these tears, evenly spread across the cornea when you blink. In 24 hours, the body secretes between 0.75 and 1.1 grams of tears. But, as mentioned before, this amount gets lower with age. If this quantity gets lower, or the quality of basal tears becomes worse, you might develop dry eye syndrome. This is a common condition, but people overlook it.

And, given the condition’s name, most people wouldn’t think to associate it with watery eyes. But the excess water gets secreted as your body tries to rehydrate the cornea. But, the most common symptoms are burning, pain, and redness of the eye. This is a specific issue of basal tears, and it’s most people resolve it with eye drops. But, if you have clogged ducts, your doctor might even choose to use lacrimal plugs.

Besides biological factors, some externalities can cause fewer basal tears to be secreted. For example, too much screen time, certain meds, and even strong wind can cause dry and irritated eyes.

2. Reflex Tears

At first glance, reflex tears seem very similar to basal tears. But not only do they have different chemical compositions, but they also serve other purposes. This tear comes from the lacrimal glands, but it has a much higher percentage of water. In fact, these tears are almost entirely made out of water. And this composition is mostly explained by their role. Just like the name suggests, these tears are secreted as a reflex to a stimulus.

For example, if a bug gets into your eye, your eyes will start to water, secreting reflex tears to get it out. They are even why your eyes water when you have dry eye syndrome; because your body is trying to make the pain go away. Reflex tears, also called irritant tears, respond to all kinds of irritation. They occur all the time, from unwanted particles to chemicals to onions, bright lights, and even strong smells.

And sometimes, they might even occur when you cough, yawn, or vomit. Because these tears should protect the eyes, they will usually release in larger quantities than basal tears. They are not secreted all the time like basal tears are. And while the lacrimal glands don’t need to be stimulated to begin secreting tears, your eyes may need more stimulation for the process to occur.

3. Emotional Tears

These are the types of tears that most people know about and think about when they hear the word “tears.” They are also called psychic tears, and they only occur when someone is overwhelmed with emotion. When you secrete these tears, people usually refer to the result as crying. Emotional tears connect to stress, anger, pain. But, contrary to popular belief, they don’t have to be related to negative emotions.

They can also happen when you feel joy, happiness, or relief. These tears have the same composition as basal tears, but they have more stress hormones. Additionally, they contain a higher amount of natural painkillers than any other type of tears. And the number of tears secreted when you cry is much higher than the amount of reflex or basal tears.

When people cry, they don’t just secrete tears. They can start sobbing (convulsive breathing), their heart rate can increase, their eyes go red. They can affect your whole body, and sometimes people cry so hard that they even vomit. It seems like crying stimulates the body to produce endorphins.

So, crying is a way to calm down and make themselves feel better. They are mood stabilizers, and they are the only tears that people have specific control over. People can learn to cry on command, but they can also stop calling if they want to. Psychologically speaking, emotional tears have developed to send particular messages to people.

For example, a theory states that people used to cry to show vulnerability or submission during attacks. But nowadays, it seems like tears send different messages, like indirectly telling someone to back off. And it is even used as a way through which people strengthen social bonds.

Final Thoughts on the Three Types of Tears (And What They Mean)

For some reason, tears seem to be a very controversial topic, even though most people don’t know much about them. But, even throughout history, people used them to stereotype certain people. As soon as someone sees another person crying in public, they’ll be seen as crazy or emotional. And some people even see crying as something that only women or weak men do.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Everyone cries, and not even emotional tears are a sign of weakness. But most people don’t understand the science behind tears, so they make assumptions. Thars are mostly water but with a few extra chemicals sprinkled in. They also contain salt, oils, proteins, electrolytes, magnesium, and calcium. These chemicals have a few roles, but they are mainly there to protect the cornea and allow you to see correctly. But not all tears are the same.

There are three different types of tears: basal, reflex, and emotional tears. The basal and emotional tears have a somewhat similar role in protecting the eye. But basal tears are secreted, while reflex tears only occur when the lacrimal glands are stimulated. So, if you have irritated eyes, or even if you are coughing or yawning, you might start tearing up. And the most common tears are emotional or psychic tears.

These tears constitute crying, and they occur when your emotions overwhelm you. And the composition of emotional tears even has stress hormones and natural painkillers. That’s why, after people cry, they tend to feel relieved. And you can use crying to signal to others that you need help or even that you need some time alone.

Robot Surgeon Performs a Successful Laparoscopic Surgery

March 11, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

A robot surgeon designed by a research team from Johns Hopkins University performed the first successful laparoscopic surgery without human aid. The robot operated on the soft tissue of a pig, excelling at suturing two ends of the intestine. This technology marks a significant step toward completely automated surgery on humans, as it’s one of the most challenging parts of abdominal surgery.

The team explained more about their robot invention in Science Robotics.

“Our findings show that we can automate one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in surgery: the reconnection of two ends of an intestine. The STAR performed the procedure in four animals, and it produced significantly better results than humans performing the same procedure,” said senior author Axel Krieger, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins’ Whiting School of Engineering.

The robot performed a successful laparoscopic surgery known as intestinal anastomosis. This intricate procedure requires top-notch precision and many repetitive movements. Arguably the most challenging step involved in abdominal surgery, connecting two intestinal ends requires consistent perfection from the surgeon. Even a slight misstep could lead to leaks that can cause disastrous side effects for the patient.

The researchers worked with collaborators at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and Jin Kang, a Johns Hopkins professor of electrical and computer engineering. Krieger and his team helped build the robot. A vision-guided system tailored explicitly for suturing soft tissues. It’s perfect for performing operations such as laparoscopic surgery.

The current model is an improvement from an earlier 2016 design that accurately sutured a pig’s intestines. However, the robot had to make a large incision to make the sutures and needed help from humans.

Robot Surgeon Performs a Successful Laparoscopic Surgery

The research team enhanced the STAR with new features for better autonomy this time. They also improved surgical accuracy and consistency by equipping the robot with specific suturing tools and advanced imaging systems. These systems help to improve the accuracy of the surgical field visualizations.

Soft-tissue surgery requires rapid adaptation and reflexes to respond to unexpected challenges. Therefore, it’s one of the hardest surgeries for robots to perform. However, the STAR comes equipped with a control system that can adjust to unpredictability quickly, mimicking a human surgeon.

“What makes the STAR special is that it is the first robotic system to plan, adapt, and execute a surgical plan in soft tissue with minimal human intervention,” Krieger said.

The research team created a structural-light-based 3D endoscope and machine learning-based tracking algorithm to aid STAR’s operation.

“We believe an advanced three-dimensional machine vision system is essential in making intelligent surgical robots smarter and safer,” Kang said.

Since laparoscopic surgeries are becoming more prevalent in the medical field, autonomous robots will play a pivotal role in performing them successfully.

“Robotic anastomosis is one way to ensure that surgical tasks that require high precision and repeatability can be performed with more accuracy and precision in every patient independent of surgeon skill,” Krieger said. “We hypothesize that this will result in a democratized surgical approach to patient care with more predictable and consistent patient outcomes.”

The team from Johns Hopkins also included Hamed Saeidi, Justin D. Opfermann, Michael Kam, Shuwen Wei, and Simon Leonard. Michael H. Hsieh, director of Transitional Urology at Children’s National Hospital, also contributed to the research.

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health helped fund the research.

New Features Ensure STAR Operates with Accuracy

STAR can successfully perform laparoscopic surgery for several reasons. It comes equipped with various autonomous features which allow for greater precision, including:

ability to start/pause/unpause the tissue-tracking system
detect breathing motion of tissue
inform the operator to initiate a replanning step
detect robot tool failure
control camera motion and angle
different modes of suture planning, including uniform and non-uniform spacing
programming to reduce noise and irregularity
predict tool collisions with tissue
synchronize the robot tool with breathing motions of the tissue and under a remote center of motion (RCM)

Of course, the robot still requires a human operator who can select among various suture plans or approve a replanning step. They also monitor the robot throughout the laparoscopic surgery if a repeated stitch becomes necessary. The main goal of autonomous surgery is increasing suture precision and also reducing workload among surgeons. Even though the system still requires manual adjustments for restitching when needed, the robot can autonomously complete over 83% of the laparoscopic surgery.

More Improvements on the Horizon

Compared with the team’s prior robot model designed for laparoscopy, the STAR offers several improvements. The previous robot surgeon had a tissue tracking system that only considered stationary tissue without breathing motions. Also, prefiltering for noise and tool collision prevention was only considered in one of the suture plans.

Furthermore, the robot didn’t have autonomous replanning suggestions, so the operator had to monitor each surgery step. Finally, the design lacked tool failure monitoring and independent camera motion control.

Because of these shortcomings, the robot could only complete about 58% of sutures autonomously without any restitches. So, the STAR offers more benefits and improvements regarding autonomous surgeries. Not only does the robot reduce operator workload, but it also improves patient outcomes. As autonomous surgeries become more normalized, it will help standardize surgical outcomes since they’re not dependent on a surgeon’s experience, prior training, or daily performance.

Because of this, it will enhance the accuracy and consistency of laparoscopic surgery, regarding suture bite-size, spacing, and tension, for example. Ensuring accuracy in these parameters will reduce leaks, which will help improve patient outcomes and reduce surgical complications.

Final Thoughts on Autonomous Robot that Performs Laparoscopic Surgery

The future of laparoscopic surgery may be in the hands of robot surgeons. Johns Hopkins University researchers have created the world’s first robot that performed intestinal surgery without human help. This could revolutionize soft tissue surgeries in the future, reducing the need for human surgeons while improving accuracy. As technology advances, it allows us the freedom to explore our full potential. It’s an exciting time to be alive, indeed.

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Five Things People Do for Healthy Skin That Don’t Actually Work

1. Not Using Enough Sunscreen

2. Relying on Facial Wipes or Toner and Not Cleansing After

3. Using Alkaline Facial Cleansers for Healthy Skin

4. Using Just Anything, and Avoid Using Many Products at Once

5. Over-exfoliating or Using Abrasive Scrubs

Nine Healthy Skin Remedies That Work

1. Use Sunscreen Daily

2. Avoid Picking at Your Skin

3. Use a Gentle Exfoliator

4. Use Topical Retinoids

5. Avoid Smoking

6. Get Enough Sleep

7. Drink Plenty of Water

8. Remove Your Makeup Before Sleeping or Working Out

9. Use the Best Products for Your Skin Type

Final Thoughts on Science Explains Five Things People Do for Healthy Skin That Don’t Actually Work

UK City Finds Ways to Help Restore the Declining Native Bee Population

How You Can Help Bee Populations Flourish

Final Thoughts on How Bee Bricks are Restoring Bee Populations

MS May Stem from Epstein-Barr Virus, Harvard Study Reveals

Common Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis Include the Following:

Diagnosing and Treating MS

“Currently there is no way to effectively prevent or treat EBV infection, but an EBV vaccine or targeting the virus with EBV-specific antiviral drugs could ultimately prevent or cure MS.”

Final Thoughts on Study Linking MS With Epstein-Barr Virus

1. What Are Lucid Dreams?

2. Myths About Lucid Dreams

· Myth: Lucid Dreams Are Rare

· Myth: You Need To Be Spiritual To Lucidly Dream

· Myth: You Can Get Stuck In Lucid Dreams

· Myth: Young People Make Up Lucid Dreams

· Myth: All Lucid Dreams Experience Sleep Paralysis

· Myth: Dying In Lucid Dreams Is Dangerous

· Myth: You Can Share Lucid Dreams With Other People

3. Lucid Dream Induction Techniques

· Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)

· Wake Back To Bed (WBTB)

· Wake-Initiated Lucid Dreaming (WILD)

4. Tips For Experiencing Lucid Dreaming

· Get More REM Sleep Through Good Sleep Hygiene

· Reality Checking

· Dream Journaling

Final Thoughts On How To Experience Lucid Dreams Yourself

Where Do These Types Of Tears Come From?

The Three Types of Tears

1. Basal Tears

2. Reflex Tears

3. Emotional Tears

Final Thoughts on the Three Types of Tears (And What They Mean)

Robot Surgeon Performs a Successful Laparoscopic Surgery

New Features Ensure STAR Operates with Accuracy

More Improvements on the Horizon

Final Thoughts on Autonomous Robot that Performs Laparoscopic Surgery

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