Why does trust enhance our sense of wellbeing? Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind, explained that the study discovered people who feel they can rely on others, whether in close relationships or in broader social systems, experience less stress, better emotional regulation, and a greater feeling of security in the world.

"All of these contribute not only to mental health but also to physical health," she stated. "A lack of trust causes people to experience more loneliness, hypervigilance, or anxiety, and over the long term, chronic stress activates the body's stress system. Studies have already linked chronic stress to inflammation, heart disease, decreased immune function, and even cognitive decline."

Conversely, the ability to trust others can offer a degree of protection. It reduces cortisol levels and helps sustain healthy long-term behaviors – such as an active social life, seeking medical attention in time, and maintaining healthy routines, Hafeez explained. "Trust isn't just a pleasant emotion, it's a powerful psychological resource," she added. "When you cultivate it throughout life, it may contribute to both emotional resilience and longevity."

The research also found that the most crucial kind of trust is interpersonal trust, which is present in close ties with family and friends, and has the greatest effect on a sense of wellbeing. "In the clinic, one of the strongest protective factors in a patient's recovery process is a positive and strong social support system – and this is exactly what the research reinforces," said Dr. Patrice LeGaux, a marriage and family therapist.

LeGaux noted that trust becomes particularly vital in old age, when dependence on others increases. "When you have positive relationships with a stable foundation of trust, you also have higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction."

How can we boost our trust in other people? Even if the benefits of trust are clear, it's not always easy, especially when it has been violated in the past. Nonetheless, mental health experts explained that there are practical methods to begin rebuilding it.

Start small

According to the study, experience and environment influence trust. Dr. Cynthia Viar, a mental health counseling lecturer, explained that the process of building trust starts with small, everyday moments. For example, a person who struggles to trust can observe that colleagues arrive on time, keep their word, and collaborate. "That kind of observation can be reassuring and open the door to deeper, more meaningful interactions," she said. Hafeez recommended paying attention to how people behave consistently. "Do their actions align with their words? Do they listen without judgment? Do they respect your boundaries? Trust grows when behavior is consistent, even in small things."

Understand the risk involved

Increasing trust means taking small, calculated risks, said Dr. Hannah Holmes, a clinical psychologist. "There's always a possibility that people will disappoint us, particularly if it has already happened before, and that causes real fear."

Change your perspective

Trust requires a conscious shift in thought patterns and continuous monitoring of one's mood, explained Dr. Tori Broms. "Our general feeling affects how we see the world. When we are positive and balanced, we are more trusting, and when we are frustrated or pessimistic, we tend to be suspicious."

Examine the source of the difficulty

According to LeGaux, there is usually a good reason why we find it hard to trust. "The first step is to recognize this and legitimize it, to understand why we behave this way. Only then can we ensure that past injuries aren't present in new relationships." She said she asks patients, "Does this pain belong to the current relationship?" – a question that makes it possible to understand that you can be safe now, even if that was not the case in the past. "The real work is learning to trust ourselves, so we will know how to identify when a person in front of us is indeed trustworthy."

Stay in the moment

Hafeez emphasized the importance of being in the present. Don't assume that a new person will behave like someone from the past. "It requires awareness and patience, but it's possible. And it's also important to strengthen emotional boundaries. When we know we can say 'no,' move away, or protect ourselves, it's easier for us to give others a chance."

Give people a chance to prove themselves

Holmes suggested offering small opportunities that allow others to demonstrate trustworthiness, whether it's telling an embarrassing story or delegating a small task to someone else. "Trust is built slowly, and that's okay."

How do you balance trust and caution? LeGaux explained that trust is like a muscle – you need to exercise it. This includes trusting ourselves and our intuition. Instead of trusting blindly or automatically suspecting, Broms suggested practicing "realistic trust building." This involves checking if the person keeps promises, if their behavior is consistent, and if they know how to respect boundaries. Viar added that it is worthwhile to distinguish between "good judgment" and "cynicism." Both involve caution, but cynicism blocks the possibility of trust, while good judgment allows you to remain open to new information.

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Travison and colleagues' 2007 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism documented 1% annual decline in American men's average testosterone levels. A 2020 Journal of Urology study confirms the trend persists and intensifies among younger populations. Lokeshwar and fellow researchers' comprehensive 2021 European Urology Focus study examined adolescents and young men, discovering particularly severe decline within this demographic.

Social implications – Testosterone decline may impact risk-taking behavior, leadership capacity, competitive drive and sexual motivation.

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An international research team has discovered new evidence of ancient flooding at a controversial site in Turkey that some believe could be the remains of Noah's Ark, according to findings presented at the 7th International Symposium on Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark.

The Durupinar formation, a 538-foot geological structure composed of limonite iron ore located about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, has attracted attention for decades due to its boat-like shape and dimensions that closely match biblical descriptions of Noah's Ark.

Researchers from Istanbul Technical University, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, and Andrews University analyzed 30 soil samples from around the formation, finding traces of clay-like materials, marine deposits, and remnants of marine life including molluscs, as reported by the Daily Mail.

"Our studies show that this region harboured life in that period and that, at some point, it was covered by water, which reinforces the possibility that a catastrophic event of great magnitude occurred," the researchers stated. Dating of these samples showed they were between 3,500 and 5,000 years old, a timeframe that aligns with the biblical flood narrative. According to literal interpretations of the Bible, a worldwide flood occurred during the Chalcolithic period (5500 to 3000 BC).

Professor Faruk Kaya, lead researcher on the project, noted: "According to the initial results, it's believed there were human activities in this region since the Chalcolithic period." However, he also acknowledged limitations of the findings, admitting: "With the dating, it is not possible to say that the ship is here."

The formation's dimensions provide one of the strongest arguments for the Noah's Ark theory. The Bible describes the ark as being "three hundred cubits in length, fifty cubits in width, and thirty cubits in height." Using the standardized Egyptian cubit of 52.4 cm, this would translate to approximately 157 meters in length, close to the Durupinar formation's 164 meters.

However, the theory faces significant scientific challenges. Professor Lorence Collins of California State University Northridge published research in 2016 showing that the boat-like structure resulted from natural erosion processes. His studies also indicated that the formation is much older than the surrounding flood deposits. Additionally, scientists note that the fossilization of wood into stone requires millions of years, not the mere 5,000 years since the purported flood.

Despite these scientific objections, the Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark Research Team continues to investigate the site and is fundraising for a visitor center, according to the Daily Mail.

The formation was first discovered in 1948 by a Kurdish farmer and has been the subject of ongoing research and debate ever since, with both religious and scientific communities closely following new developments in this archaeological mystery.

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Why do we tend to reach for snacks more often as daylight fades? A breakthrough study now provides concrete scientific evidence: Our internal biological clock plays a direct role in orchestrating our daily eating patterns.

In groundbreaking research at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, scientists studied 51 adolescents between ages 12 and 18. The participants were categorized into three groups based on their body mass index: normal weight, overweight, and obesity. These young volunteers spent 11 days in a controlled laboratory environment, completely isolated from natural light and time cues. They were offered six eating opportunities during their waking hours, with a consistent menu allowing them to eat as much as they desired at each meal.

The findings proved illuminating: Across all participants, food consumption consistently peaked during late afternoon and early evening hours, while reaching its lowest point in the morning – even in this entirely controlled environment. For teenagers maintaining a normal weight, maximum calorie intake occurred around 5:30 p.m.

The biological clock's influence on eating patterns

A notable distinction emerged between the groups: Adolescents carrying extra weight reached their peak calorie consumption nearly an hour later than their normal-weight peers. Furthermore, while the biological clock – our internal system regulating daily biological activities – influenced everyone's eating patterns, this effect showed less prominence in overweight or obese teenagers.

"This is the first study to prove that food consumption itself is regulated by our internal biological clock," Frank A.J.L. Scheer, a professor of Medicine and director of the Medical Chronobiology Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said.

Professor Mary Carskadon, a senior researcher at Brown, underscored the significance of these discoveries: "Adolescence is critical in shaping health patterns for life, so it's essential to understand the role of sleep processes and the biological clock in eating behavior," she said.

She suggests these insights could help physicians better guide teenagers in weight management. "For example, we can influence the timing of the biological clock by limiting exposure to light in late evening hours and increasing exposure to bright light in the morning, especially during physical activity," she explains. "This may help regulate biological rhythms and create healthy habits."

The research team emphasizes the need for further studies to determine whether influencing the biological clock's food consumption patterns leads to weight changes, whether weight changes affect how the biological clock regulates food intake, or if both factors work in tandem.

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The Tsimane tribe in Bolivia, considered one of the healthiest populations ever studied, exhibits exceptional physical health and longevity, with minimal risk of age-related illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

Researchers led by Hillard Kaplan of the University of New Mexico conducted studies over two decades indicating the Tsimane have the healthiest hearts and brains on the planet, with exceptional longevity, healthier arteries, slower brain aging, and up to 70% less brain atrophy compared to people in industrialized countries.

The semi-nomadic community of around 16,000 lives in the Amazon rainforest, around 600 kilometers from La Paz.

The Tsimane maintain a healthy lifestyle through sustainable practices like agriculture, fishing, hunting, and regular physical activity, with a low-fat, high-fiber diet, contributing to their exceptional health in old age. However, their traditional way of life is being impacted by factors like forest fires, droughts, wildfires, and floods.

Researchers have played a crucial role in improving healthcare access for the Tsimanes, but their research is limited by the tribe's lack of accurate age tracking.

The Tsimane's traditional lifestyle, including hunting, foraging, and farming, is evolving due to external factors, leading to changes in their diet and physical activities.

Sources: BBC, Sindonews, Internewscast, Nybreaking, Dailymail, Yahoo, Animalpolitico, Correiobraziliense, Hoy, Theglobalherald, Evrimagaci, Playtech, Vijesti, Larepublica, Bolivia, Cronista, Teletica

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Researchers attached lightweight cameras, GPS units, and sensors weighing less than 1% of the sea lions' body weight to adult females from two South Australian colonies, capturing nearly 90 hours of footage across 500km and mapping 5,000 sq km of previously unmapped seabed habitats.

Using data from the sea lions, including video, environmental factors, and machine learning, the researchers generated accurate models predicting diverse seafloor habitats off Australia's south coast, effectively mapping benthic habitats in the lowest ecological zone.

The study identified six distinct benthic habitats and new reefs, revealing diverse seafloor habitats like kelp reefs, sand plains, sponge gardens, and invertebrate reef habitats, with nutrient supply, sea surface temperature, and depth as crucial influencing factors.

The study helped identify crucial habitats for conserving endangered Australian sea lions and may benefit other marine species.

Humans have explored only 5% of the world's oceans, limiting the study of sea life in the wild, but marine animals like sea lions can help map and study unexplored areas.

Knowledge of the seafloor across the world's oceans is very limited due to the challenges of using remotely operated robots, which are costly, weather-dependent, and difficult to use in remote marine areas.

The Australian sea lion population has declined by 60% over the past 40 years due to historical hunting and modern threats like commercial fishing equipment, with only about 10,000 remaining across 80 breeding sites.

The study was published in Frontiers of Marine Science and supported by funding from the Australian government and The Ecological Society of Australia.

Sources: The Guardian, Nature, The Washington Post, PopSci, Business Insider, USA Today, New Scientist, The Conversation, DIY Photography, Technology Networks, The Bharat Express News, Evrim Ağacı, The Financial Express, Xinhua News, Foreign Affairs, Interesting Engineering, Cosmos Magazine, Mirage News, DNyuz.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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A study conducted by researchers from Oakland University, has found evidence that cats exhibit grief-like behaviors when they lose a close animal companion, even if it's a dog or another cat.

The observed behaviors include changes in sleeping, eating, playing habits, seeking more attention from owners, hiding, appearing to search for the lost companion, and reduced engagement in daily activities.

The intensity of these grief-like behaviors may be influenced by factors such as the duration of cohabitation with the deceased companion, the closeness of their relationship, and the owners' own grief levels, rather than witnessing the death or the number of pets in the household.

The findings challenge the misconception that cats are inherently solitary animals, as they form social structures and hierarchies in the wild.

Research on canine and feline cognition and behavior has advanced significantly, revealing their social and cognitive abilities.

The study's findings suggest that mourning is a universal psychological experience across species.

Sources: The Guardian, Yahoo News, FinanzNachrichten, Politis, BFMTV, Iefimerida, Sapo, Anlatilanin Otesi, Telex, 24.hu, Fokus, Jutarnji, Female First, DC News, Tribuna do Sertao

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Humans possess remarkable endurance running capabilities, with slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant muscle fibers and an efficient sweating mechanism, which may have evolved as a hunting strategy, allowing them to run down large game animals through persistence hunting.

According to a recent study, chasing prey to exhaustion was a successful hunting strategy in repeated historical documentation.

The endurance pursuit hypothesis suggests that humans evolved to run long distances for hunting strategy. Hunting prowess may have effected human evolution through social status and mate selection.

Physiological traits favorable for endurance running, such as slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant muscles and effective heat dissipation through sweating, first appeared in the Homo genus around 2 million years ago.

Cooperation, social elements, and strategic signaling were common tactics used during endurance pursuits, suggesting a social aspect of running in humans.

Mathematical models show that the net return rate of food acquisition from endurance pursuits can match or exceed other foraging methods, especially in challenging conditions.

Sources: Yahoo News, SciTechDaily, List23, Descopera, Study Finds, Earth.com, ScienceBlog, EurekAlert!, Mirage News, UC Davis, Die Presse.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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A very large crude carrier (VLCC) with a deadweight tonnage of 300,000 tonnes, equipped with a bionic skin propeller inspired by dolphins and sharks, completed three oil transport journeys during testing, sailing over 200 days and about 35,000 nautical miles between Chinese and Middle Eastern ports.

The trial showed a 2% decrease in fuel consumption, saving over 300 tons of fuel annually, equivalent to a reduction of 900 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and an economic benefit of around €128,000 to €140,000 annually.

The artificial propeller cover was created by researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The bionic skin mimics the structure of dolphin skin to reduce turbulence and create mini whirlpool currents that minimize water flow energy, allowing for smooth sailing and minimizing turbulence, similar to how dolphins move effortlessly.

The cost of integrating this bionic skin onto a propeller is estimated at around €18,000 to €20,000, making it financially beneficial and eco-friendly. The material complies with international conventions on harmful antifouling substances on ships.

Maritime transportation is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering intend to promote the application of bionic skin on over 100 oil tanker ships.

Sources: The Cool Down, Tivi, Mundo Deportivo, Slate, Talouselämä, Tekniikka & Talous, Antara News, Xinhua.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Scientists recognize over 20 types of ice, formed under different pressures and in different temperatures.

The ice we know, which forms naturally, is called ice 1.

Researchers from the University of Tokyo discovered a new form, calling it Ice 0. It plays a unique role in ice formation by seeding the crystallization process in supercooled water.

Ice is often formed where cooled water meets a solid surface.

With Ice 0, it can happen in a different way.

Ice nucleation can occur just below the water surface, where it meets the air, around small precursors with a structure similar to ice-0, contrary to the idea that droplets freeze from their core.

Ice 0 precursors are formed because effects from water's surface tension.

The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Sources: noticiasvillaguay.com.ar, earth.com, knowridge.com, sci.news, meteogiornale.it, ana.ir

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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