Monday, September 16, 2024

10 THE STAR NEWS • Monday, September 16, 2024 @JamaicaStar www.facebook.com/JamaicaStar • www.jamaica-star.com Wood can provide stress relief N ew research suggests that touching a wooden surface can provide the same stress-re- lief benefits as petting an animal. Professor Baroness Kathy Willis from the University of Oxford explained, “Stroking wood can be akin to petting a dog. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, compared to stroking surfaces like marble or steel, even when they are at the same temper- ature. This is something people nat- urally do when they browse kitchens in stores, subconsciously seeking the soothing feel of wood.” Professor Willis added that the calming effect is partly due to the scent released by wood, which per- sists for years even after the tree has been cut down. She told the Instant Genius podcast, “Wood panelling in various settings, including offices and homes, continues to emit a pleas- ant scent long after installation. Tests have shown that people in rooms with wood, such as pine, performed significantly better in tests, compared to those in con- crete rooms, suggesting that the scent might contribute to the relaxing effect.” Earth vibrated for nine days A recent study revealed that a landslide and subse- quent mega-tsunami in Greenland caused the Earth to vibrate for nine days. The col- lapse of a 1.2-kilometre-high mountain peak triggered a wave in Dickson Fjord, which reverber- ated through the Earth’s crust. Researchers at University College London (UCL) attrib- ute the event to the thinning of the glacier at the mountain’s base due to climate change. Dr Stephen Hicks, co-author of the study at UCL Earth Sciences, stated, “This is the first instance where water sloshing has been recorded as vibrations travelling through the Earth’s crust for sev- eral days. This unique seismic wave, containing only a single frequency of oscillation, high- lights the complex connections between climate change, gla- cier destabilisation, water move- ment, and the Earth’s crust.” Cancer vaccine shows promise A new cancer vaccine, mRNA-4359, devel- oped by Moderna, could revolutionise cancer treatment. This vaccine is designed to help the im- mune system recognise and target cancerous cells more effectively. Experts believe the vac- cine has the potential to halt tumour growth in pa- tients with advanced can- cer, and marks a significant step towards a novel treat- ment for the disease. Dr Debashis Sarker from King’s College London commented, “This study of mRNA cancer immu- notherapy represents an important initial step to- wards developing a new treatment for advanced cancer patients. Our find- ings indicate that the ther- apy is well tolerated, with no serious side effects, and has the potential to stim- ulate the immune system to combat cancer more effectively. However, with the study involving only a small number of patients so far, it is too early to deter- mine its overall efficacy for those with advanced-stage cancer.” A study conducted in Gabon has revealed that tropi- cal plants consumed by wild gorillas, which are also used by local healers, have medicinal properties. Researchers found four plant species with high levels of antioxidants and antimicrobials, with one showing potential against superbugs. Gorillas are known for their use of medicinal plants, and the study identified four trees in the Gabonese rainforest with antibacterial activity against E. coli strains. D r J o a n n a Satchell from the University of Durham noted, “This discovery indicates that gorillas have evolved to con- sume plants bene- ficial to their health, and underscores the significant gaps in our understanding of the Central African rainforests.” Gorillas set to discover new drugs