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A solution to indoor air pollution

Low air quality causes a host of problems, from diminished cognition to productivity declines. Humans spend 90% of our time indoors, where CO2 levels can be high and nearly all respiratory disease is transmitted. Outdoors, air dissipates and ultraviolet light kills most viruses and bacteria. New technology is giving promise to cleaning up the air inside. Far-UVC, ultraviolet light with a shorter wavelength, brings the same virus-killing attributes of UV light without the risk to humans. It can't penetrate the skin and eyes. By combining this technology with improved ventilation and filtration, the Institute for Progress believes there's potential for change not seen since fire codes were updated in the early 20th century. Costs would be high, but focusing on the 5% of buildings that cause the most illness could reduce overall infections by 17%. In another study, it was measured that at $40 per occupant each year, ventilation improvements could lead to $6,500 in improved worker performance. That's before considering infections. We spend nearly all of our time indoors, rarely thinking about the air. Maybe it's time for change. (Stat News - 4 mins)

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'Study drugs' make you worse at complex problem solving

The drugs that powered you through college aren't going to help you win that Nobel. A recent study of stimulants (those found in Ritalin, Aderall, and modafinil) found that participants took much longer and performed worse at complex problem solving. The 40 subjects ranged in age from 18 to 35 and did not have ADHD. In the study, they were faced with the 'knapsack problem': choosing items to put into a bag that would optimize the value of the items while staying below a weight threshold. It represents the everyday, complex problem solving seen at the grocery store or workplace. The double blind study involved all participants attempting to solve on a placebo and the stimulants. Worst of all, the highest performers on placebo were the most likely to do worse on stimulants. They used more effort and tried more solutions, but overall, output was worse. (The Conversation - 4 mins)

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Aspartame is possibly carcinogenic. So what?

Aspartame, the sweetener used in countless food products like Coke Zero and Wrigley's Gum, will be classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" in July. The listing by JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) is the third in its cancer categories - carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic and not classifiable. The decision depends on the strength of evidence, not how much of a product could cause cancer. For comparison, asbestos and processed meat are 'carcinogenic', working overnight and eating red meat are 'probably carcinogenic', and electromagnetic fields from cell phones are 'possibly carcinogenic'. This isn't to say hot dogs are as bad for you as cigarettes, but that there's strong evidence against both. The change for aspartame is certain to grab headlines and have food companies scrambling, but seriously: if we so easily ignore the other classifications, why do we care so much about this? (Reuters - 4 mins)

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Space travel hurts the immune system

Astronauts on the ISS frequently suffer from skin and respiratory disease and we're beginning to understand why. A recent study of 13 astronauts found genetic changes that lead to a rapid decrease in the strength of the immune system. The researchers from University of Ottawa believe the change comes from 'fluid shift', which moves plasma into the upper body. This leads to an overall decrease in plasma volume and apparently alters gene expression. The astronauts were studied throughout their time in space, between 4.5 and 6.5 months. Thankfully, gene expression returned to normal back on Earth, in only a few weeks on average. We may soon have rockets to go to Mars, but are our bodies ready? (​Frontiers in Immunology​ - 28 mins)

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