Health

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes thousands of changes every day to genes inside human skin cells. Cancer risk increases as the number of DNA changes increases, but the majority of DNA changes in healthy skin cells will not cause cancer.

PLOS Genetics

Viewing cat videos or photos boosts feelings of energy and positive emotions (hope, happiness, contentment) and decreases negative emotions (anxiety, annoyance, sadness, guilt). However, viewing more cat videos was also associated with less emotional stability.

Computers in Human Behavior

Across North America, climate change is intensifying pollen seasons which start earlier, last longer, and have higher pollen concentrations than 30 years ago. This can be a greater trigger for allergy and asthma symptoms.

PNAS
APnews

Long-term exposure to air pollution, especially ground-level ozone, can accelerate the progression of emphysema, a disease that causes damage to the lungs.

JAMA
UWnews

Eating more fruits and vegetables, optimally two servings of fruit and three servings of veggies per day, is associated with lower mortality in adults.

Pregnant women with COVID-19 were not more likely to have preterm birth, severe preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), or deliver by C-section than pregnant women without COVID-19.

Health

Light pollution, which disrupts sleep, may be associated with premature births and reduced birth weights.

People that avoid attachment in relationships benefit from touch when experiencing it, despite their negative attitudes toward it.

7-11 year-olds had a harder time responding to emotional cues when their sleep was restricted to six hours or less. The effects were stronger in kids with anxiety symptoms.

Exercise has positive long-term effects on cognitive function. Coordination exercises, such as dancing, appear to have a greater benefit than endurance exercises or resistance training.