global briefs Splashy Solution
Generating Electricity from Rain A surprisingly high voltage can be gener- ated from raindrops using a field-effect, transistor-style structure, reports a new study from the City University of Hong Kong in the journal Nature. A single drop can muster 140 volts, enough to briefly light up 100 small LED
bulbs. The new design couples an aluminum electrode with an indium-tin oxide electrode layered with polytetra- fluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a quasi-permanent electric charge. When a raindrop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit that helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, as well. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point. Building rooftops could supplement some of the electricity used inside, and elec- tric boats could extend their range.
Mental Relief
Mindfulness Training May Reduce Paranoia In news that may be useful for people dealing with the stress of the global pandemic, researchers from the University of London have found that just one week of practicing mindfulness—moment-to-moment awareness—reduces feelings of paranoia. The research, published in the journal Mindful- ness, was based on questionnaires of 494 people, enabling researchers to find a correlation between paranoia
and judgemental thinking. They found that higher levels of nonjudgement predicted lower levels of paranoia, even in individuals that had a predisposition for it. Then, 68 people were selected and divided into two groups: one that was asked to go through a prerecorded, guided mindfulness session once per day, and one that acted as a control. The session consisted of a quick body scan, mindful breathing and awareness exercises. The results showed a drop in judgmental thinking and paranoia in the mindfulness group.
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Pest Alarm
Sentinel Trees Give Advance Warning The United States, Europe and China are growing “sentinel trees” in stra- tegic locations around the world to receive advance warnings of destruc- tive pests that could destroy native plantings. According to a study pub- lished in Plos One, “Sentinel nurseries represent one potential mechanism to address the current lack of knowl- edge about pests in the countries from where live plants are shipped and the threats they represent to native flora and crops in importing countries.” As global trade intensifies, the risk for accidental importing of and exposure to new invasive pests is a constant worry for entomologists and arborists, stimulating a search for new tactics to prevent future losses.
Beware the Air
Dementia Linked to Air Pollution People continuously exposed to air pollution are at increased risk of dementia, especially if they also suffer from cardiovascular diseas- es, reports a new study from the Karolinska
Institute in Sweden, published in the JAMA Neurology. Researchers examined nearly 3,000 adults with an average age of 74 living in the Kungsholmen district in central Stockholm for up to 11 years. Of those, 364
people developed
dementia. The district’s annual average level of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in width is high by Swedish standards, but low compared to international standards. Heart failure and ischemic heart disease both enhanced the dementia risk, and stroke explained almost 50 percent of air pollution- related dementia cases, according to the researchers.
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