heart.mind.soul

Do you doodle?

2011-02-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

Good news, doodlers: the next time you are caught scribbling away in a meeting or lecture, explain that you are imporving your concentration.
A study by a UK psychology professor has shown that people who doodle have better recall. Professor Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to listen to a very dull message and write down names of people mentioned. Half were told to doodle naturally while others simply sat and listened. Lo and behold, the doodlers were better at concentrating and recalled more information. The reason, she says, is because doodling stops daydreaming and helps people pay attention. “We know that daydreaming takes a lot of mental energy,” she says. “The best thing is to concentrate on a single task, but otherwise try doodling to stop your mind wandering.”

"Bouncing back"

2011-02-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

Problems at school, hassles with parents, relationship trouble - teenagers have many reasons to view life as being full of setbacks. Jeffrey Derevensky, a psychology professor at McGill University, says it's normal to feel down or hopeless at times. But here are some ways to start feeling better:

- Talk it over. Open up to people you trust.

- Take charge. ''Sometimes, big changes are hard, so do something that makes you feel in control,'' says Ester Cole, a psychologist who works with youth. It could be as simple as wearing clothes that make you feel confident.

- Get expert advice. Seek out your guidance counsellor or, to stay anonymous, call a helpline or crisis line.

- Do something you're good at. Draw, shoot baskets, play a musical instrument – whatever reminds you that you're capable, says Cole.

- Take it one day at a time. Don't worry about the long-term consequences. ''You could be fighting with your best friend,'' says Derevensky, ''and the next day, you've forgotten what the fight was even about.''

- Laugh. Watch a funny show or joke with friends: Laughter is a great stress reliever.

Massage for Concentration Dips

2011-02-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

We all have “dips” in concentration at one time or another during the workday. You may find that your attention starts to wander just before and after lunch, for example. Try this sequence to restore mental alertness and help you stay sharp. The routine takes less than five minutes but can make a big difference to your concentration level.

1. Make loose fists with both hands and gently beat all over your head using a drumming action. Make sure you use the flats of your fingers and heels of your hands – not the knuckles.

2. Continue this beating movement down the back of your neck and across the tops of your shoulders. You may find it more comfortable to use one hand to work the opposite side of your body. Support your working arm with your free hand.

3. Starting from the same position as the previous move, rub across your shoulders with the flat of your hand. Use a light brisk rubbing action as far as you can reach across your upper back, up your neck, and over your chest. Repeat on the other side.

4. Move your hands to your ears and gently rotate them forward and then backward. Now place your hands on your forehead and gently rake them up and down, working from the centre outwards.

5. Close your eyes and lightly tap all over your face with the pads of your fingertips.

6. When you’ve covered your whole face, raise your eyebrows and open your eyes wide. Finally, blink a few times.

Sleep tight no matter your age

2011-02-19T07:36:00.000-08:00

Just as sleep is crucial to the health of adults, new research suggests that lack of sleep may affect teens' health too.

Ohio researchers found that otherwise healthy teens who slept less than 6.5 hours a night were 2.5 times more likely than those who slept longer to have elevated blood pressure.The study, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, also revealed that the systolic blood pressure of teens with "low sleep efficiency"-a measure of sleep quality defined as "having trouble falling or staying asleep"- was,on average, four points higher than that of teens who slept well.And the sleep-deprived were 3.5 times more likely to have prehypertension or hypertension. Although further study is needed, researchers caution that untreated hypertension can increase the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases later in life.

The hunt for new species

2011-02-19T03:47:00.000-08:00

Every year, scientists from International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) scour the world's ecosystems to reveal new species from the plant and animal kingdoms. "most people don;t realize just how incomplete our knowledge of earth's species is, or the steady rate at which taxonomists are exploring that diversity," says Quentin Wheeler, director of IISE.

2010 top 10 of new species

Name: Nepenthes attenboroughii
It is a charismatic plant species and produces one of the largest pitchers known at 30x16 cm, comparable in size to an American football. It is also carnivorous, feeding on insects trapped by the fluid contained in the pitchers. Endemic to the island of Palawan, Philippines, it is known only from a single locality and the authors suggest it be Red Listed as Critically Endangered.

Name: Swima bombiviridis
Common Name: Green bombers
This deep-sea annelid is a “bomb”-bearing species. It has modified gills that can be cast off from an individual. These "bombs" illuminate for several seconds with green bioluminescence. It is thought that this is a defensive mechanism rather than reproductive, as it is seen in both mature and juvenile individuals.

Name: Dioscorea orangeana
Common Name: Angona (Also used for other yam species of northern Madagascar)
Dioscorea orangeana is a new species of edible yam found in Madagascar. Its tuber morphology is uncharacteristic of Malagasy yams exhibiting several digitate lobes instead of just one. Although newly described, the authors suggest that it should be Red Listed as Critically Endangered, since it's heavily harvested and growing in unprotected habitat.

Name: Aiteng ater
Common Name: Aiteng
Its discovery has resulted in a new family, Aitengidae. Although it shares nearly all characteristics with sacoglossans, it exhibits unusual eating habits. This sea slug eats insects, whereas nearly all sacoglossans eat algae and a few specialize in gastropod eggs.

Name: Histiophryne psychedelica
Common Name: Psychedelic frogfish
It has an unusual psychedelic pattern and is unique among frogfishes in being flat-faced.

Name: Nephila komaci
Common Name: Komac's golden orb spider
It is the first species of Nephila to be described since 1879 and it is the largest Nephila to date. Orb-weaving spiders exhibit extreme sexual size dimorphism: female paratype of this species has a body length of 39.7mm and a male has a body length of 8.7mm. Nephila has the distinction of spinning the largest webs known, often greater than 1m in diameter. Although the web of this new species has not been observed, it is likely to be large.

Name: Phallus drewesii
This two inch mushroom was named in honor of Dr. Robert Drewes and was the subject of the June 20, 2009 segment, "Bluff the Listener," on the NPR quiz Show, "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me." Click here to listen to the segment.

Name: Danionella dracula
Common Name: Dracula minnow
Males of this species have canine-like fangs for sparring with other males. This is the first record of oral teeth-like structures being found in the Cyprinidae, the largest family of freshwater fishes.

Name: Gymnotus omarorum
Common Name: Omars' banded knifefish
This species has been locally exploited and used for several decades, "as a model species for understanding electric organ physiology and electrocommunication" (Richer-de-Forges et al. 2009). Neurophysiologists at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable in Montevideo, Uruguay have mistakenly referred to this species in literature as Gymnotus carapo or G. cf. carapo. This and other species (until recently) have been lumped into G. carapo. This highlights how little we know about biodiversity when, "a model organism" can remain undescribed for 30 years.

Name: Chondrocladia (Meliiderma) turbiformis
The person who nominated this species stated, "Fifteen years ago, the discovery that a deep-sea sponge family, the Cladorhizidae, was carnivorous greatly surprised the world of Zoology. Carnivorous sponges in fact display very high diversity in the deep ocean, especially in the Pacific where most of the collected specimens appear as undescribed taxa. Among these, Chondrocladia turbiformis displays a special type of spicule for which the new term “trochirhabd” has been coined. Similar spicules were known from fossil strata of the Early Jurassic, suggesting that carnivorous sponges were already present in the Mesozoic. The name turbiformis derives from the spindle or whirl-shaped form of the characteristic trochirhabds (Latin, turbo, spinning top, disc)."

More Than Just Panda Food

2011-01-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

Bamboo has long been regarded by the Chinese as a symbol of longevity,but only now are we seeing the true versatility,durability and beauty of this giant wild grass.we've seen it used for flooring,but the buzz on bamboo is extending to other products.

Bamboo Fabrics

They are the spearhead of an eco-textile revolution.Because it's fast-growing,bamboo is a highly sustainable resource.Plus,it's grown without the use of pesticides.
We haven't always associated bamboos with luxurious comfort,but it's fibre can be pulped,separated into thin threads,then weaved into a soft cloth. Bamboo fabric has a beautiful drape,comparable to silk.It's used for clothing,towels,diapers,sheets and more.

Bamboo Skin Care

Beauty companies are cottoning on to bamboo's benefits,too.Finely ground bamboo is a natural exfoliant being added to face scrubs. And it's high silica content makes its extract a good ingredient for shampoos and moisturizers.

Bamboo Sporting

A California mountain-bike designer has developed a bamboo bike frame,and surf-board manufacturers are making bamboo boards.

Plug-and-Play Bamboo

You may soon have the latest in computing accessories.Computer company Asus has launched a laptop encased in sleek bamboo veneer.

Fast Eaters Get Fat

2011-01-21T19:28:00.000-08:00

Eating slowly could help you win the battle of the bulge. A study of more than 3,000 Japanese adults published in the British Medical Journal found that those who ate their meals quickly were about twice as likely to be obese as their slow munching counterparts.

People who ate quickly and who ate until they were full were 3 times more likely to be obese. The research supports previous evidence that people tend to consume more calories when they eat quickly, but also that eating quickly is linked to obesity regardless of how many calories are eaten.

Dr Elizabeth Denney-Wilson, an obesity expert from the University of New South Wales, says research suggests people can learn to eat more slowly and recognise their internal cues for fullness.She adds that while it is not known what drives us to eat quickly, behaviour such as eating while distracted and eating fast food on the go may be to blame.

Setting aside meal times and chatting between bites can help slow the rate of eating and allow your body to send fullness signals before you've over eaten.

Neuroheadset..The Mind Control

2011-01-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

Mind control, as seen in movies, may soon come to a brain near you. It is now possible to control game characters with your thoughts.

The Emotiv EPOC neuroheadset is designed by a brain trust, including co-founders Tan Le and Nam Ho, two Vietnamese scientists, to give gaming to more a realistic feel. The uses are not limited to games; they are also to help disabled patients to navigate a wheelchair ; while others to express the creativity and artistic work.

This device detects neurons that tell our hands and legs to move. By firing a specific set of neurons, you can move a character, work a set of spells and kill your opponent just by thinking about it.

While the system isn't perfect(not as easy as we make it sound), it is a step in the right direction especially if it can help paraplegics to walk.

Ways To Get Happy =D

2011-01-17T03:14:00.000-08:00

-Set aside a worry time, such as half an hour after work.
If worries come up at other times, put them out of your mind until worry time.

-Practise random acts of kindness.
Research shows altruism is a powerful catalyst for happiness.

-Redefine happiness.
Some people think happiness only means pure joy, but it is also includes emotions such
as contentment. Work out what happiness means to you.

-Be curious.
Set aside time to do something new, such as taking up a new sport or visiting a
different town.

Being happy could add years to your life. While happiness doesn't cure illness, it does help healthy people live about 7.5 to 10 years longer, according to an analysis of more than 30 studies. "The size of the effect is comparable to that of smoking or not," says lead researcher Professor Ruut Veenhoven from the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

small but MIGHTY

2011-01-16T15:54:00.001-08:00

BEANS are a high-fibre, low fat, vitamin- packed source of protein and now there are even more reasons to eat them.

1) There are chock-full of antioxidants.
Black beans offer the most benefit, followed by lentils, black soya beans and red kidney beans, says a new study from North Dakota State University. The high levels of phytochemicals may help prevent hardening of the arteries by reducing plaque build-up and keeping blood vessels healthy.

2) They lower cholesterol.
People at risk of developing diabetes lowered total and LDL(bad) cholesterol by more than 8% when they ate 120ml of pinto beans a day for 8 weeks, according to a recent Arizona State University study. In comparison,120ml of oatmeal a day lowers cholesterol by about 2%.

3) They prevent disease.
Studies show that nutrients in legumes may also protect against Alzheimer's as well as breast and colon cancers.

The OLD and NEW 7 wonders of the world

2011-01-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

The 7 wonders of the Ancient World

About 2 centuries before the time of Christ, a man named Antipater of Sidon, Palestine wrote a kind of "travel guide" to the Mediterranean world, in which he listed the most wonderful structures of his time. Only 1 of these remains today; the Pyramid and the Sphynx at Giza. Until recently only a few sketches, coins and written descriptions survived. Working with the latest archeological information, eminent and scientific and historical illustrator Howard David johnson has reconstructed all seven wonders to give us a glimpse of a lost world washed away by the tides of time.

Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest character of Babylonian history, built the hanging gardens of Babylon to please his wife who had disliked the bareness of her new home. It is certain that he was a great builder; he restored many temples, put up bridges, and lined rivers with embankments. The walls he built around the city of Babylon were the longest, widest, and highest in the ancient world. The hanging gardens of Babylon - dedicated to the planet Venus rose above them in five tiers each 50 feet above the next, each tier planted with fabulous trees and flowers.

At Giza, Egypt, stands the Sphinx, and three famous pyramids, the oldest and largest of which was built by King Khufu (or Cheops) about 3000 B.C. This enormous monument - a tomb built to protect the king's body and the treasures buried with him - is the most expensive monument a man has ever built to himself. The Great Pyramid was dedicated to the planet Mercury.

The Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus, in what is now Turkey, was built in the fifth century B.C. Once burned down, it was rebuilt even grander, it measured 342 feet by 164 feet and had 127 columns over 60 feet high. It was in this temple that Paul the Apostle preached against pagan worship and aroused angry crowds. The temple was destroyed by the Goths in 262 A.D. The Temple of Diana was dedicated to the Moon.

When Mausolus, king of Caria (in Asia Minor), died in 353 B.C. his widow built a great marble tomb at Harlicarnassus. A fine pyramid with steps of marble surmounted the rectangular base and on top of the pyramid was a mighty sculpture of Mausolus driving an eight horse chariot group. Eventually destroyed by an earthquake, the Mausoleum of Harlicarnassus was dedicated to the planet Mars.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia in the Peloponnesus, was made of marble and decorated with ivory and beaten gold. It was make by Phidias, the most famous sculptor of antiquity, who also made the statue of Athena which crowned the Acropolis. The statue of Zeus was dedicated to the planet Jupiter.

The Pharos at Alexandria was a lighthouse at the port of the Egyptian city named for Alexander the Great. It was completed around 200 B.C., a skyscraper of the ancient world standing 600 feet high. The summit was an open place, surrounded by bronze columns, where a fire burned at night, fed by wood raised thru the central shaft. The most legendary feature of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was a gigantic mirror which either reflected the sun's rays or the fire by night - up to 150 miles out at sea. The magnificent edifice was destroyed more than a millennium later by a series of earthquakes. It was dedicated to the planet Saturn.

The Colossus of Rhodes was a bronze statue of Apollo, 100 feet high. Erected around 275 B.C. and standing high on an embankment facing the port (not straddling the entrance to the port as was often thought). The legs of the statue were filled with masonry to keep the statue from being top heavy. This and other precautions were unable to save yet another of the ancient wonders from the fury of earthquakes. It lay broken on the rocks for 800 years until Arab conquerors sold it as scrap metal. The Colossus of Rhodes was dedicated to the Sun.

The Latest 7 Wonders Of The World

The Official New 7 Wonders of the World have been elected by more than 100 million votes to represent global heritage throughout history. The listing is in random order, as announced at the Declaration Ceremony on 07.07.07.All The Official New7Wonders of the World are equal and are presented as a group without any ranking.

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

This statue of Jesus(Christ Redeemer) stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people.

This great amphitheater (Colosseum) in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.