Fitness trackers were useless

American scientists have found that the advent of wearable fitness devices turned out to be useless and did not have a positive impact on the overall activity of the population. They analyzed data obtained from various sources from residents in eight countries - Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United States. The research was carried out between 1995 and 2017. Despite the popularity of smart devices, the average level of physical activity in recent years has decreased, not increased - smart gadgets have not helped people move more and have not changed their lives.

How to memorize information quickly?

Write information that you need to remember. Otherwise, the brain practically does not work and it will be very difficult to remember. When we write the same information many times, many areas of the brain work. In particular, the most important part of the brain is the prefrontal cortex. By training your prefrontal cortex, you will not only learn how to memorize information well, but you will better understand where and how to use it. When you're just reading text to learn, your prefrontal cortex barely works. Such memorization of the text can be called cramming.

Biomarkers indicating the risk of suicide have been found

To do this, experts analyzed blood and brain samples of people who committed suicide, as well as people who died in other circumstances. It turned out that changes in the expression of genes that are responsible for reactions to stress, circadian rhythms, immune responses and the state of telomeres (participants at the ends of chromosomes that protect them from damage) appeared in people who committed suicide. The researchers believe that their discovery will allow the use of the data obtained in clinical practice, which will provide timely support to patients with a high level of suicidal tendencies, which should lead to a decrease in mortality among risk groups.

Solar powered aircraft

Startup Skydweller Aero is testing a solar-powered aircraft that will charge while in flight. The startup, together with the US Navy, has released an aircraft capable of staying in the air for up to 90 days. Now a new version has been finalized, and according to the developers, it can fly for a whole year without landing.

A method has been developed to recycle plastic in a week

In the course of the work, scientists used machine learning to create the FAST-PETase enzyme, which can break down molecules of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which accounts for 12 percent of the world's waste. The enzyme was obtained using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The process of destruction of plastic with the help of this substance occurs in a week at a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. In addition, scientists were able to carry out depolymerization, that is, the transformation of a polymer into a monomer. The resulting material can then be repolymerized - assembled into virgin plastic - and converted into other products.

Remote work does not affect employee productivity in any way

The University of Texas conducted a large-scale study of several categories of remote workers at once. Some left because of illness, others because of cataclysms, others because of restrictions. The result was always the same - the productivity of employees remained at the same level

Bed for people.

A Canadian startup has launched a huge dog bed for people who want to feel like their pets are relaxing. The cheapest version will cost $400.

Key with breathalyzer

Apple has patented a car key with a breathalyzer. Media journalists found a registered Apple invention in the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. The company's engineers suggested adding a breathalyzer as an additional feature to the car. According to experts, drunk drivers will not be able to get behind the wheel if they do not pass the test. Journalists believe that this option may appear in a future Apple car.

Tire dust is 1,000 times more harmful than exhaust fumes

Tire dust is 1,000 times more harmful than exhaust fumes - students at the Imperial College London College of Art have solved the problem. A team of four students created a device that attaches to a car tire and uses the electrostatic and aerodynamic properties of a spinning wheel to collect tire dust as it forms.

The neural network has learned to create drug formulas from chemical waste

An international team of scientists has created the Alchemy platform, which, using neural networks, offers options for the synthesis of approximately 300 drugs from 200 types of chemical waste. Artificial intelligence makes it possible to close some production chains in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries. The Alchemy computer system now does this for them. She studies the composition of complex waste and, on its basis, builds options for the synthesis of new substances - they are called routes. With widespread use, the platform is expected to help reduce toxic waste

How to quickly and effectively learn anything?

American business coach Josh Kaufman mastered six new skills in a year: he studied programming and wrote two programs in Ruby, relearned touch typing from one layout to another, started practicing yoga, learned to play "Chinese chess" Go and the ukulele, and mastered windsurfing. He wrote a book about this, “The First 20 Hours. How to quickly learn ... anything. This book is worth reading.

How to become smarter?

Being literate in our time is very useful, but, alas, not everyone understands this. Start small: 1. Disable autocorrect on your phone When autocorrect is enabled, we often don't even pay attention to how the word is spelled. 2. Read more Yes, it’s trite, but it’s also very useful, because with regular reading of absolutely any literature, the brain remembers the most complex words, expressions and grammatical constructions.

"Iceberg"

In Milan, the facade of the hospital was updated and nicknamed "Iceberg". The ribs on the façade work like blinds, partially cutting off the direct rays of the sun, which interfere with doctors. And the titanium dioxide facade coating breaks down smog particles and retains heat. An admission to the hospital costs from $450, and about 50,000 surgeries are performed per year.

The Chinese have taught a swarm of drones to fly through bamboo thickets.

Chinese engineers taught a swarm of drones to move through the forest and demonstrated this by flying through bamboo thickets as an example. The drones constantly exchange information and fly as a single unit, but at the same time they can slightly deviate from the general trajectory if there is an obstacle in the way. Drone swarms can come in handy in a variety of situations. For example, they have already been used as a distributed set of sensors, which helped to find the location of a gas leak.

SUV for people with disabilities.

The American company Outrider USA introduced the lightest all-wheel drive electric SUV in history. Cougar is designed specifically for people with disabilities to help them travel, hunt or fish in nature. Portability was a key design goal of the SUV: it folds up and fits easily into the trunk of a car, and the total weight is just 59kg. The control system combines a pair of hand levers that can be tilted to control power and braking. The Coyote's top speed is 45 km/h, but users can set their own driving speed. The price for the basic version of the SUV is $14,000, and the all-wheel drive is $20,000.

Japan is one step closer to flying cars.

SkyDrive-05 has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure. And very soon, in Japan it will be possible to fly them officially. This two-seat flying car allows you to do at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour, and can be in flight for 30 minutes.

From the lunar soil, oxygen and fuel can be synthesized

Chinese scientists analyzed recently brought samples and said that the materials necessary for human work can be produced directly on the moon. There is everything needed for the synthesis of oxygen and rocket fuel, and energy can be taken from the sun's rays.

Shower for gamers

Irish Spring, which sells shampoos and shower gels, has presented a very unusual invention for gamers - Gamer Shower. The futuristic device allows you to wash and play at the same time. The shower for gamers is quite real, it is unlikely to go into mass production and is only part of the Irish Spring advertising campaign.

The impact of COVID-19 on the brain was compared with aging for 20 years

In the course of the study, scientists studied the data of 46 patients with a severe form of coronavirus infection aged 28 to 83 years. Six months after the illness, patients were asked to undergo a test that revealed cognitive parameters (memory, attention, anxiety, reaction speed, the likelihood of developing depression and post-traumatic disorder). When the results were compared with the average of 66,000 people, it turned out that the speed and accuracy of responses suffered in those who had coronavirus. In addition, their IQ scores dropped, and the overall decline in cognitive function was equivalent to brain aging from 50 to 70 years.

The birthplace of figure skating.

Holland is considered the birthplace of figure skating. It was there, in the 13th-14th centuries, that the first iron skates appeared. The appearance of a new type of skates gave a powerful impetus to the development of figure skating, which at that time consisted in the ability to draw intricate figures on the ice and maintain a beautiful pose at the same time.