Today, science is worried. Bournemouth University releases potentially unsettling news about dementia and MIT reports that yet another flu strain could pose a serious health risk. In lovelier news, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center recently released a sun video three years in the making.
People are developing dementia and related neurological diseases younger than ever
A study by Bournemouth University reveals a sharp increase in the number of deaths from dementia and related brain diseases in people under 74 in the ten biggest Western countries from 1979-2010. Not only do these diseases now affect a proportionally larger number of older people, they're presenting an all-time high of earlier-onset cases.
With neurological deaths up 66% in men and 92% in women, the USA is the worst of the countries in question. Study researchers say the cause of this is likely environmental, but while concerned parties have speculated on everything from pollution to smartphones and antiperspirant, scientists haven’t identified a specific culprit or combination of culprits. Perhaps one such environmental factor could be the recently uncovered connection between middle aged obesity and dementia risk.
Now here's a note from me: I'm a bit skeptical of this story because in spite of it making statements that seem quite plausible, I've only found a few sites reporting on it. That being said, if what this study implies is indeed the case, major yikes!
MIT study says H3N2 has pandemic potential
Scientists at MIT have found that many strains of H3N2 currently present in birds and pigs are genetically similar to the one from Hong Kong that killed an estimated 1 million people globally in 1968. Like 2009's H1N1 strain, their similarity to the older virus means they could be similarly dangerous, and also that many individuals will be susceptible because they haven't been exposed to them before. If any of these strains makes the leap to humans, current vaccines may not be effective against them.
Also on the topic of flus, this NPR post does a great job of breaking down how the various viruses are named and what that tells you about their mutations.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has been recording images of the sun since Spring 2010
Through three-year period, the observatory captured pictures of the sun every 12 seconds. This beautiful video shows that evolution in the space of about 3 minutes:
