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In COVID-19 Crisis, Older Canadians Are More Resilient than Younger Generations, Research Finds – The Suburban Newspaper

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Edward Jones, in partnership with Age Wave, released a landmark study on Aug. 4 that takes a comprehensive look at retirement in Canada, focusing specifically on four central pillars: health, family, purpose and finances.

The study examines trends affecting the rapid transformation of retirement in Canada as the country's aging population approaches this new stage of life. This includes the impact of COVID-19 which has accelerated many of the trends unearthed in this study.

Despite COVID-19's severe and disproportionate impact on the health of aging adults, older Canadians reported they are coping far better than younger ones. "The Four Pillars of the New Retirement" study of 1,000 Canadian respondents across five-generations revealed that 38 per cent of Gen Z and 36 per cent of millennials said they have suffered mental health declines since the pandemic began, while only 20 per cent of baby boomers and 7 per cent of silent generation respondents said the same. The majority of Canadian retirees (51 per cent) defined retirement as a whole new chapter filled with new choices, freedoms and challenges, and they do so in a more holistic way across four important areas of health, family, purpose and finance.

"We've certainly seen COVID-19's disruptive influence on finances, with the pandemic impacting retirement timing and financial confidence," said David Gunn, Country Leader, Edward Jones Canada. "However, the pandemic has brought families closer and renewed the focus on important discussions about planning earlier for retirement, saving more for emergencies and even talking through end-of-life plans and long-term care costs."

"COVID-19's impact forever changed the reality of many Canadians, yet we've observed a resilience among Canadian retirees in contrast to younger generations," said Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., psychologist/gerontologist and founder and CEO of Age Wave. "Older Canadians recognize the value of a long-term view, and so as they think about their lives, longevity and legacy, they're able to pull from an array of experiences that help them weather current storms, feel gratitude about many aspects of their lives and still plan for the future."

The four pillars to living well in the "new retirement"

The study goes beyond the impacts of COVID-19 and outlines what makes today's retirement "new". Canada's retirement landscape is unique - increasing longevity and a groundswell of Boomers entering retirement make this one of the most significant societal shifts in history. The study found, changing attitudes and aspirations coupled with external forces (i.e. economic downturns, the pandemic, technology, etc.) have drastically changed the expectations of those approaching or entering retirement and will shape what retirement looks like for generations to come.

The study identified four key pillars for living well in the "new retirement":

When it comes to living well in retirement, 97 per cent of retirees and 99 per cent of those age 75 and over, say that health is more important than wealth. 91 per cent of Canadian retirees say it's never too late to improve health, however, there is an intention/action gap as 51 per cent of Canadian retirees don't exercise regularly, and 33 per cent say they don't maintain a healthy diet. While physical health usually declines with age, for many Canadians mental health rises.

A bright spot coming out of the pandemic is the deepening of family ties. Two-thirds of Gen Z define family as "anyone they love and care for, regardless of whether they are related by blood, marriage or adoption." They believe in "families of affinity" or families of choice. As we approach what is expected to be the largest generational wealth transfer in recent memory, retirees cite they worry about their children more (44 per cent) and are willing to do whatever it takes, personally and financially, to support family members in need, even if it means sacrificing their own financial security (63 per cent). The study also found, 47 per cent of Canadians overall and 30 per cent of Canadians age 65 and over have yet to begin discussing their end-of-life care preferences with their family or close friends.

Retirees with a strong sense of purpose are happier, healthier and live longer, according to the study. This cohort reports they find their strongest sense of purpose from spending time with loved ones (72 per cent) and many (46 per cent) find purpose by being generous or helping others, particularly women (54 per cent). They are also looking for meaningful ways to carve out their free time. They don't just want to keep busy; they want to make useful and rewarding contributions to community and family. As the country's population continues to age, 89 per cent of Canadians agree that there should be more ways for retirees to help in their communities.

According to the study, a chief financial goal amongst retirees, is to have enough resources to provide security (48 per cent) and the freedom to live the lives they want (47 per cent). Retirees' greatest financial worry is not economic uncertainty like recessions, inflation or taxes, despite the disruption associated with COVID-19. Their greatest concerns are encountering unexpected expenses (54 per cent) and the cost of health care, including long-term care (47 per cent). Pre-retirees express even higher concerns about health and long-term care (59 per cent) with three quarters of those who plan to retire (74 per cent) stating they have no idea what their health and long-term care costs may be in retirement.

"Beyond finances, we can help our clients envision and truly realize a holistic and fulfilling retirement, which, we know includes decisions about their health, family and purpose," said Gunn. "Empathy and knowledge allow us to better serve as a trusted advisor to our clients in a human-centered way and work together to achieve what's most important to Canadians and their families."

While the above findings feature a selection of data regarding the new definition of retirement, further examination of the four pillars of health, family, purpose and finances reveal their highly intertwined nature and influence in shaping retirees' overall quality of life. For the complete study, please visit http://www.edwardjones.ca/newretirement

Edward Jones is a full-service investment dealer with more than 850 financial advisors in Canadian communities from coast-to-coast.

Edward Jones Canada, http://www.edwardjones.ca

Age Wave, http://www.agewave.com

A Movie of the Evolving Universe, Potentially Scary – Scientific American

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

After the COVID-19 rules about social distancing went into effect, I developed a morning routine of jogging through the woods near my home. During the first months, I focused on the green branches that stretch upward towards the sky, but recently I started to notice the debris of tree trunks lying on the ground. There are many such remnants, eaten by termites, rotting and ultimately dispersing into the underlying soil. A glimpse at the forest reveals a sequence of evolutionary phases in the history of trees that lived or died at different times.

The phenomenon happens in other contexts. For example, I recently completed a nine-year term as chair of the Astronomy Department at Harvard. And only now have I begun to notice the former chairs scattered around me, just like those tree trunks in the woods.

Entering a new stage of life can be humbling. We acquire a false sense of permanence from reviewing the frozen past, as if it were a statue that will never erode. But this view is shortsighted, since each moment can also be seen a new beginning, shaped by forces beyond our control and swirling on a grander scale.

Old-fashioned astronomy was also permeated by a false sense of permanence. Astronomers collected still images of the universe, creating the impression that nothing really changes under the sunor above it, either. But just like the revelation from my stroll through the woods, these snapshots showed stars and galaxies of different ages, at various evolutionary phases along their history. Computer simulations helped us patch together the full story by solving the equations of motion for matter, starting from the initial conditions imprinted on the cosmic microwave background at early cosmic times. By generating snapshots of an artificial cosmos similar to those captured by telescopes, these simulations unraveled our cosmic roots. The scientific insight that emerged is that the likely origins for our existence were quantum fluctuations in the early universe. Perhaps we should add Quantum Mechanics Day to our annual celebrations of Mothers Day and Fathers Day.

There are some missing pages in the photo album made up of our observations, however: the period known as the cosmic dawn, for example, when the first stars and galaxies turned on. These missing pages will be filled in the coming decade by the next generation of telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the ground-based "extremely large" telescopes and the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA).

To reveal a more literal gap in the sky, the Event Horizon Telescope recently captured a still image of the silhouette of the black hole in the giant galaxy M87. The next goal is to obtain a sequence of images or a video, showing the time variability of the accretion flow around the black hole.

The tradition of still images makes sense when dealing with systems like galaxies, which evolve on a timescale of billions of years. But the universe also exhibits transient fireworks that flare up and dim during a human lifetime. Observing them is the motivation behind the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which will have its first light soon. LSST will be a filming project, documenting nearly a thousand deep multicolor images per patch of the southern sky over a decade and recording the most extensive video of the universe ever taken with its plethora of transients in full glory.

Some of the LSST flares are expected to be the counterparts of gravitational wave sources detected by LIGO/Virgo or LISA. Their discovery will usher in multi-messenger astronomy based on both gravitational and electromagnetic waves emitted by the same sources, providing new insights about the central engines that power these transients. The related standard sirens could serve as new rulers for measuring precise distances in cosmology.

Within the Milky Way, transient events close to Earth could lead to catastrophe. A supernova explosion, for example, could cause a mass extinction on an unprecedented scale. If a meteor similar to the one that hit the unpopulated regions near Chelyabinsk in 2013 or Tunguska in 1908 hit New York City, it could cause a far larger death toll and economic damage than COVID-19. Or consider the impact of a blob of hot gas from the Sun, a so-called coronal mass ejection of the type that missed the Earth in 2012. Such an event could shut off communication systems, disable satellites and damage power grids. Altogether, astronomical alerts about such celestial threats could be crucial for securing the longevity of our species.

Of greatest relevance for our long-term survival is identifying large objects on a collision course with the Earth, similar to the Chicxulub asteroid that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. In 2005, Congress passed a bill requiring NASA to find and track at least 90 percent of all near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters (enough to cause regional devastation) by 2020. Only a third of these objects have been identified in the sky so far. In a recent paper with my undergraduate student Amir Siraj, we explained some puzzling properties of the Chicxulub asteroid as a tidal breakup of a long-period comet that passed close to the sun. If future sky surveys alert us to another fragment whose apparent size grows rapidly against the sky, wed better have a contingency plan to deflect its trajectoryor else immediately call our realtor.

Keeping up with the challenge of precision cosmology for the next few decades can demonstrate that the Hubble constant, which describes the expansion rate of the universe, is not really a constant, in accordance with the expected Sandage-Loeb test. In the long run, the only thing that stays constant is change. The accelerated expansion of the universe under the influence of so-called dark energy will be the ultimate manifestation of extragalactic social distancing in the post-COVID-19 era, preventing any future contact between us and civilizations outside our galaxy.

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A Movie of the Evolving Universe, Potentially Scary - Scientific American

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market With Top 20 Countries data Analysis, Growth by Top Companies, Trends by Types and Application, Forecast Analysis to 2026…

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

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Olivia de Havilland, Gone With the Wind actress and Hollywood royalty, dies at 104 – Destin Log

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Olivia de Havilland, one of the last pillars of Hollywood royalty and a contemporary of Bette Davis and Errol Flynn, died "peacefully from natural causes" Sunday at the age of 104, talent agent Jim Wilhelm told USA TODAY. Her death marks the passing of one of the last stars of classic films of the 1930s, an actress before her time in the fight for equality, and an icon who took on the studio system and won.

Best known for her sweet-natured role as Melanie Hamilton in "Gone With the Wind," the two-time Oscar winner (for 1946's "To Each His Own" and 1949's "The Heiress") will be remembered most for her beautiful diction, an air of refinement and gumption, and grace on and off camera. Outspoken and steely in real life, de Havilland starred in more than 50 films on the big and small screen from 1935 to 1988, and was known as a staunch advocate for actors rights and creative freedom in Hollywood.

Bound by the grip Warner Bros. held on her career, the 27-year-old star sued the studio in 1943, prompting a collapse of oppressive long-term contracts in Hollywood. And in the latter years of her life, the British-American actress reminded she was no pushover, making headlines by filing a lawsuit in Los Angeles over being portrayed as a gossip monger in Ryan Murphys FX show "Feud: Bette and Joan," which chronicled the longtime rivalry between actresses Davis and Joan Crawford.

She was born Olivia Mary de Havilland in 1916 in Tokyo, where her father Walter Augustus de Havilland taught English at the Imperial University and then became a patent attorney. Her mother Lilian Augusta Ruse was a stage actress educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, but she left her career to move to Japan with her husband.

On a family trip to California in 1919, Olivia became ill with a bronchial condition and her younger sister Joan (later to become the actress Joan Fontaine) developed pneumonia. Lilian decided to remain in California with Joan and Olivia for her daughters health. They settled in Saratoga, a suburb of San Francisco, while her father abandoned the family and returned to Japan. De Havillands mother divorced in 1925 and married George Fontaine, a strict stepfather the girls resented.

Fontaine died in 2013 at age 96. De Havilland's death was also preceded by son Benjamin Goodrich in 1991. She is survived by her daughter, Gisele Galante Chulack, son-in-law Andrew Chulack and niece Deborah Dozier Potter. Funeral arrangements will be private, Wilhelm said.

After making her Hollywood debut in a version of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," de Havilland - named for the Bard's "Twelfth Night" character Olivia - made an early mark opposite Flynn. In 1934, she had signed a contract with Warner Bros., who decided to pair her with the then-unknown Australian They starred a year later in "Captain Blood," a swashbuckling hit that made the two of them bonafide stars, and they made seven more movies as one of Hollywoods most memorable on-screen romantic pairings. She played Maid Marian to Flynn's title rogue in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in 1938, and they last appeared together in 1941s "They Died With Their Boots On."

With David O. Selznicks 1939 Civil War epic "Gone With the Wind," de Havilland said at the time that having read the Margaret Mitchell novel, she knew she could bring the character of Melanie to life, and the actress' soft voice and graceful manner made her the perfect fit for a pivotal role: Melanie's indelible goodness saved Scarlett OHara (Vivien Leigh) from social ruin more than once and even touched Scarletts hard heart. Though far less showy than Scarlett, de Havillands iconic role is deeply etched in audiences hearts.

The character earned de Havilland her first Oscar nomination, for best supporting actress, but she lost to her "Wind" co-star Hattie McDaniel. De Havilland's second nod came for 1941s "Hold Back the Dawn," where she shared the best actress category with her sister, who won for "Suspicion." De Havilland took home her own best actress Oscar five years later, for her performance in "To Each His Own," and they are still the only siblings ever to have won lead acting Academy Awards.

But de Havilland and Fontaine fostered a heated competitiveness that lasted all their lives, from childhood to stardom. That rivalry rumored to have escalated into a feud where the two didnt speak was the subject of Hollywood gossip for decades.

In 2016, three years after her sister's death, de Havilland finally broke her silence on their relationship to the Associated Press: "A feud implies continuing hostile conduct between two parties. I cannot think of a single instance wherein I initiated hostile behavior." However, she added, "I can think of many occasions where my reaction to deliberately inconsiderate behavior was defensive.

In 1949, Fontaine put it differently, telling columnist Hedda Hopper: You see, in our family, Olivia was always the breadwinner, and I the no-talent, no-future little sister not good for much more than paying her share of the rent."

De Havilland referred to her sister as Dragon Lady.

"Dragon Lady, as I eventually decided to call her, was a brilliant, multi-talented person, but with an astigmatism in her perception of people and events, which often caused her to react in an unfair and even injurious way," de Havilland said in 2016.

De Havilland, who won her second best actress Oscar for "The Heiress," was also nominated for her performance in 1948s "The Snake Pit," one of the earliest films to feature a realistic portrayal of mental illness. That role also cemented her reputation for embracing flawed and unglamorous characters.

I believed in following Bette Davis example, she told the Los Angeles Times in 1988. She didn't care whether she looked good or bad. She just wanted to play complex, interesting, fascinating parts, a variety of human experience. I wanted Melanie to be just one of the images. Let's have a few others.

Being as well-received as she was both by the public and critically for her part in "Gone With the Wind," de Havilland longed for more substantial parts early in her career, particularly more serious ones than as Flynns demure leading lady, who was usually a damsel in distress. But Warner Bros. did not support her efforts. De Havilland grew increasingly frustrated by the lack of challenging roles and began to reject scripts.

While De Havilland wanted to pursue opportunities with other studios, Warner Bros. told her they added six months more to her seven-year contract for times she had been on suspension. (Legally, studios could suspend contract players for rejecting a role, then add that time to the contract period.)

At the urging of her lawyer, she sued Warner Bros., supported by the Screen Actors Guild. The case went to the Supreme Court of California and the court ruled in her favor in 1945. Known as the de Havilland Law, the landmark decision proved to be one of the most important and far-reaching legal rulings in Hollywood, reducing the power of the studios and giving greater creative freedom to actors.

Performers of that era and later benefited from her legal case, and the law won de Havilland much respect among her peers and colleagues. Fontaine was even quoted as saying Hollywood owes Olivia a great deal. But Warner Bros. circulated a punitive letter that essentially blacklisted de Havilland. She did not work for a film studio for two years until Paramount signed her in 1946.

"As soon as my victory was legally confirmed and I was free to choose the films that I made, Paramount presented me with the script of 'To Each His Own,' " playing an unwed teenage mother. This was exactly the kind of challenge for which I fought that case," she told the AP with pride in 2016.

In addition to championing actors rights, de Havilland was known for her liberal political stance. She organized a fight for control of the Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, which she felt was being manipulated by a small group of Communists. She failed and then resigned, triggering a wave of resignations, including that of an actor she had recruited to the group, Ronald Reagan. Even though she had very publicly worked to organize Hollywood resistance to Soviet influence, she was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1958 because of her vocal liberal activism.

On the personal front, de Havilland was romantically involved with Flynn, Jimmy Stewart, director John Huston and filmmaking mogul Howard Hughes, though Havilland eventually married Navy veteran and novelist Marcus Goodrich in 1946, before divorcing in 1953. They had one son, Benjamin, who died in 1991 after a battle with Hodgkins disease.

She wed French journalist Pierre Galante in 1955, moved to Paris, and had a daughter, Gisele. De Havilland's adjustment to Parisian life was recounted in her 1962 memoir "Every Frenchman Has One." The couple divorced in 1979.

De Havilland only appeared occasionally in films in the 1950s and turned down the role of Blanche Dubois (which won Leigh her second best actress Oscar) in 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire." While some thought it had to do with the suggestive themes of the story, she said in 2006 that she declined the part because she had recently given birth to her son.

Her few film roles in the 60s included "Lady in a Cage" (1964) and "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" (1964). In 1965, she was the first woman to preside on a jury for the Cannes Film Festival.

De Havilland continued acting in films until the late 1970s and on television through the 1980s. She won a Golden Globe in 1987 and also earned an Emmy nomination for "Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna." And In 2009, she lent her distinctive voice to the narration of a documentary on Alzheimers disease entitled "I Remember Better When I Paint."

In her later years, she maintained perspective on her impressive longevity: All the artists I had known during the Golden Era (live) elsewhere, she said in 2016, including the after world.

Originally posted here:
Olivia de Havilland, Gone With the Wind actress and Hollywood royalty, dies at 104 - Destin Log

Soy Foods: Are They Good Or Bad For Your Health? – Longevity LIVE

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Soy has been part of traditional Asian diets for the past millennium, and in recent years, its slowly become a staple in many vegans, vegetarian and plant-based diets. Now while the move away from meat products is welcome, you cant deny that youve heard the rumors. There are rumors about whether soy foods are a welcome alternative to meat or rather a serious health risk that we should be avoiding.

Soy continues to be one of the most controversial foods on the planet with many praising its benefits, whilst others claim that its actually bad for you especially because it contains plant estrogens.

So, which is it? Is soy the answer to all things plant-based, or should we avoid it just as much as we avoid red meat? Read on to find out.

Soy products are made from soybeans, which are plant food that belongs to the pea family. They come in many colors, most notably green, yellow and black. Whilst the majority of soybeans are processed into soy foods, soybeans also help to produce soy oil as well as protein powder and soy isoflavone supplements. Whats more, some people even use the remnants of soy oil processing as food for farm animals and pets.

Soy has been the subject of many studies, and before we delve into the benefits of soy, it should be noted that many soy-based studies have been financed by the soy industry. It is something worth keeping in mind.

Lignans and isoflavones are phytoestrogens found in the body that mimic the sex hormone estrogen. Research suggests that in mimicking estrogen, these two compounds can offer cancer-protective benefits.

For instance, a 2014 studyfound a strong correlation betweensoy-food and a 26% reduced risk of developing breast cancer. A more recent study echoed these findings by suggesting that suggested isoflavones in soy can help reduce the risk of hormone associated cancers, such as breast cancer.

If youre battling with lockdown weight, then you may need to look to soy-based products. Thats at least according to one animal study.

The study, published last yearin the journal Molecules, found thatcertain compounds in soy isoflavones helped to prevent the buildup of fat around the organsof rats.That said, the researchers believe that the findings provesoy isoflavones potential for managing obesity.

Studies suggest that soy may help you on your journey in starting a family.

One studyfound an association between soy consumptionand better outcomes for women undergoing fertility treatments. A separate study also found that womenwho ate soy before in vitro fertilization (IVF) faced a higher chance of a successful pregnancy than those who did not.

Funnily enough, a studypublished in the journal Andrology found that male soy food intake did not affect or influence IVF outcomes.

If youre battling with uncomfortable menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, soy foods may help.

Compounds found in soy can mimic estrogen, and this may then help alleviate menopausal symptoms.

A reviewof 17 studiespublished in the journal Menopause found that women who had takenadailydose of soy isoflavones for 12 weeks experienced 20.6% fewer hot flashesanda 26.2% reduction in symptom severityover the course of the study.

The isoflavones found in soy may help to improve insulin sensitivity. In fact, a previously mentioned study suggested that soy isoflavones may help to reduce the risk of diabetes. Exactly how it does this is still unknown.

Prostate cancer is currently the second most common cancer found in men worldwide, so its important to take the right precautions in reducing ones risk and it appears that consuming more soy products may help.

A2018reviewof 30 studies (a total of 266,000 men across North America, Europe, and Asia) found a strong correlation betweenhigh soy consumption anda lower risk of developing prostate cancer. The study found a 29% reduced risk in regards toall soy foods and a 35% lower risk when it came to non-fermented soy foods.

In 2000, the FDA supported claims that soy protein can support heart health, and the American Heart Association supported these claims (1).That said, in2008, the AHA sent a letter to the FDA requesting that it reconsider its authorized health claim. This then begs the question of what does current research say about soy products and heart disease?

Well, a 2015 reviewthat looked at 35 studies found that soy products helped to reduce levels ofLDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol while raising HDL (good) cholesterol. The researchers also noted that soy supplements did not have the same cholesterol-lowering effect as soy foods.

Another review study published in 2017 looked at 17 observational studies, and that found a strong link between eating more soy foods and a 17% lowered risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease as well as an 18% lowered risk of stroke.

As mentioned, soy contains phytoestrogens which are plant compounds that can mimic the human hormone estrogen. The most popular of these plant compounds are isoflavones, and it is often linked to a number of soys health benefits. Unfortunately, its also responsible for a few of its health concerns.

This is because disrupting your hormones can affect the way your body functions. In men, hormonal imbalances can affect their libido, energy and it may even increase the risk of man boobs. With women, hormonal imbalances wont only disrupt your menstrual cycle, but it can also affect fertility and even increase the risk for some cancers. A reviewpublished in theJournal of Nutritionfound that high consumption of soy can affect ovarian functioning.

Some formulapreparationscontain soyand a baby consuming hormones in large quantitiesis sure to affect their health. Research suggeststhat exposure to soy phytoestrogens early in life can alter the timing and character of breast development(2). Another studylinkedsoy formula consumption to a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids.

Goitrogens are compounds found in soy that may affect thyroid function. According to research, goitrogens affect how much iodine your thyroid gets and this can lead to hypothyroid problems (3).

In fact, a study examining women and men on a vegetarian diet found that women with higher soy intake faced an increased risk of having higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which maysignify an underactive thyroid.

Phytates are anti-nutrients naturally found in a number of foods, including soy.

Being anti-nutrients, phytates affects the bodys absorption of minerals. These include zinc, calcium, iron, and magnesium, which can increase the risk of deficiencies.

While you can neutralize phytates in other foods through soaking and slow cooking, the phytates found in soy can only be neutralized through long fermentation.

Trypsin is a digestive enzyme that helps the body break down and digest protein.

Lack of trypsin can cause digestive problems. With soy being high in trypsin inhibitors, eating soy may increase the risk of stomach cramps and diarrhea.

A large majority of soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified. While more studies are still needed, there has been some research highlighting the negative health effects of GMO foods (4).

Whats more, a lot of soybean crops are sprayed with the chemical herbicidesglyphosate, whichis rich in controversy.

While some studies suggest that soy can help with fertility, other studies have found that soy intake may negatively affect fertility.

A study done on 11688 women found an association between high soy isoflavone intake and a lower likelihood of having been pregnant or giving birth to a live child.

Its clear that more research is needed to properly examine the relationship between soy intake and fertility.

Now you may be reading this and wondering if soy is so bad, which is it so prominent in Asian diets and why is the Asian population so healthy?

Well, the fact is, Asians do not eat a lot of soy. Rather, they consume small amounts of soy (around 10 grams a day 2 teaspoons!) and most of it is fermented, such as nato, miso, or tempeh.

Its clear that more research is needed to determine all the positive and negative effects of eating soy. If you are looking to eat soy, the best thing to do would be to pick minimally processed forms of soy.

Whole soy products are the least processed, and they include soybeans and edamame. Soy milk and tofu are also included in this list as they are made from whole soybeans.

Fermented soy foods are processed by boiling, fermenting, and refining soybeans. Theyre also safer to consume as they are free of antinutrients. The most common fermented soy products include soy sauce, tempeh, and miso.

If you have a high risk for hormonal cancers and thyroid disorders, it would be advisable to stay clear of soy and soy-based foods.

Its clear that more high-quality research is needed to fully determine the effect soy consumption can have on our overall health. So, if you really want to be careful, you can opt to skip the soy all together and focus on other plant-based meat substitutes that boost your health, rather than jeopardize it.

Link:
Soy Foods: Are They Good Or Bad For Your Health? - Longevity LIVE

Scientists sequence the genomes of six bat species for clues to their unique features – ZME Science

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Myotis myotis(Greater mouse-eared bat), Credit: Olivier Farcy.

Bats are the only flying mammals in the animal kingdom but thats not all theyre known for. Bats have a number of quite extreme adaptations, such as echolocation, highly sensitive sensory perception, significant longevity for their size, resistance to cancer, and exceptional immunity to viral infections. In fact, the coronavirus that has caused the world to grind to a halt is believed to have evolved inside bats, before jumping into humans.

No doubt, bats are amazing creatures. Now, for the first time, researchers have sequenced the raw genetic material that contains the instructions for bats unique, superpower-like adaptations.

Given these exquisite bat genomes, we can now better understand how bats tolerate viruses, slow down aging, and have evolved flight and echolocation. These genomes are the tools needed to identify the genetic solutions evolved in bats that ultimately could be harnessed to alleviate human aging and disease, Emma Teeling, senior author of the new study and a researcher at the University College Dublin, said in a statement.

Teeling and colleagues affiliated with Bat1k, a global consortium of researchers on a mission to sequence the genomes of every one of the 14,210 living bat species, published a study today in which they describe the genomes of six bat species.

The genomes were highly accurately analyzed with state-of-the-art sequencing technology and are about 10 times more complete than any other bat genome published in the past.

Using the latest DNA sequencing technologies and new computing methods for such data, we have 96-99% of each bat genome in chromosome level reconstructions an unprecedented quality akin to for example the current human genome reference which is the result of over a decade of intensive finishing efforts. As such, these bat genomes provide a superb foundation for experimentation and evolutionary studies of bats fascinating abilities and physiological properties Eugene Myers, senior author of the study and Director of Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, and the Center for Systems Biology, said in a statement.

The first six bat genomes that were sequenced part of the Bat1K global genome consortium belonged to the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), the pale spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus discolor), the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), the Kuhls pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and the velvety free-tailed bat (Molossus molossus).

Their genetic blueprints were compared to 42 other mammals, which enabled the researchers to pinpoint the position of bats on the mammalian tree of life.

Due to their many unique quirks, the question of where bats fit in on the tree of life has always been unresolved. But using novel phylogenetic methods and molecular datasets, the evidence suggests that bats are most closely related to Ferreuungulata a group of mammals that includes carnivores like dogs, cats, and seals, as well as pangolins, whales, and hoofed mammals. Not a very narrow definition seeing how bats and cows are on the same roster, but as more bat genomes are sequenced their taxonomy can be refined further.

The side-to-side comparison of different mammalian genomes also helped tease apart adaptations that are unique to bats through the loss and gain of certain genes.

For instance, the genes that enable bats famous echolocation were selected for in the ancestral branch of bats, suggesting this is an ancient trait in this group of mammals.

There was also evidence of gene loss and gain involved in immunity, particularly the expression of antiviral APOBEC3 genes. This may explain why bats have exceptional immunity that makes them extremely tolerant to viral infections.

In this day and age, understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow bats to withstand coronaviruses may lead to new approaches, therapies, and vaccines meant to increase human survivability in the face of COVID-19.

Having such complete genomes allowed us to identify regulatory regions that control gene expression that are unique to bats. Importantly we were able to validate unique bat microRNAs in the lab to show their consequences for gene regulation. In the future we can use these genomes to understand how regulatory regions and epigenomics contributed to the extraordinary adaptations we see in bats. Sonja Vernes, Co-Founding Director Bat 1K, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Senior Author

Although the researchers sequenced the genomes of only six bats, theyve already learned quite a lot. However, this is merely the beginning there are still more than 1,400 known bat species to go.

The findings appeared in the journal Nature.

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Scientists sequence the genomes of six bat species for clues to their unique features - ZME Science

Meet Moss, the dog in charge of protecting Australias rarest feathered creatures – Scroll.in

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Moss bounds happily through the bush showing the usual exuberance of a young labrador. Despite this looking like play, he is on a serious mission to help fight the extinction of some of our most critically-endangered species.

Moss is a detection dog in training. Unlike other detection dogs, who might sniff out drugs or explosives, hell be finding some of Victorias smallest, best camouflaged and most elusive animals.

These dogs use their exceptional olfactory senses to locate everything from koalas high in the trees, desert tortoises burrowed deep under soil and even whales often more effectively than any human team could aspire to.

What makes Moss unique, however, is hell not only find endangered species in the wild, but will also be part of a larger team helping endangered species breed in captivity. These dogs will be the first in the world to do this, starting with a ground-breaking trial with Tasmanian devils.

Wildlife detection dogs are a very rare type of dog they are highly motivated, engaged and energetic, but also incredibly reliable and safe around the smallest of creatures. And Moss is the first dog to join Zoos Victorias Detection Dog squad, a permanent group of highly trained dogs that will live at Healesville Sanctuary.

Moss was adopted at 14 months old, after he somewhat failed at being a family pet. He is a hurricane of energy with an intelligent and playful mind. Hes thriving with a job to keep him occupied and new challenges for his busy brain.

One sign he was perfect for this program was his indifference to the free range chickens at his foster home. For obvious reasons, a dog who likes chasing chickens wouldnt be a good candidate for protecting some of Australias rarest feathered treasures.

Currently, Moss is learning crucial foundational skills, and getting plenty of exposure to different environments. Equally important, he is developing a deep bond and trust with his handlers.

The detection dog-handler bond is crucial not only for his happiness, but also for working success and longevity. Research from 2018 found a strong bond between a handler and their dog dramatically improved the dogs detection results and reduced signs of stress.

Healesville Sanctuary breeds endangered Tasmanian Devils every year as part of an insurance program to support conservation and research. This program is crucial to help protect the devil following an estimated 80% decline in the wild due to a horrific transmissible cancer, Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

But managing a predator thats shy, nocturnal and prefers to be left alone can be tricky. Wildlife, including Tasmanian devils, need a hands-off approach where possible, so they can maintain natural behaviours and thrive in their environment.

In the wild, devils leave scats or faeces at communal latrine sites and use scent for communication. Male devils can tell a female is ready to mate by smelling her scat. And we think dogs could be trained to detect this, too.

We aim to train dogs to detect an odour profile in the collected scat of female devils coming into their receptive (oestrus) periods, so we can introduce females and suitable males to breed at the optimal time. The odour profile will be further verified via laboratory analyses of hormones in the scats.

The project will also explore whether dogs can detect pregnancy and lactation in the devils. Currently, the best way to determine if a female has young is to look in her pouch, but our preference is to remain at a distance during this important time while females settle into being new mums.

If the dogs are able to smell a scat sample, while never coming into contact with the devil, and identify that a female is lactating with small joeys in her pouch, we can support her for example, by increasing her food while keeping a comfortable distance.

The results from this devil breeding research could offer innovative new options for endangered species breeding programs around the world. Wildlife detection in the field means we can more accurately monitor some of our most critically endangered species, and quickly assess the impact of catastrophic events such as bushfires.

Detection dogs are the perfect intermediary between people and wildlife they can sniff out what we cant and communicate with us as a team.

And over the next few years, the Detection Dog Squad will expand to five full-time canines. They will all be selected based on their personalities rather than specific breeds, so will likely come in all shapes and sizes.

Dogs may yet go from being mans best friend to the devils best friend and beyond, all starting with a happy labrador named Moss.

La Toya Jamieson, Wildlife Detection Dog Specialist, La Trobe University. Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne.

This article first appeared on The Conversation.

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Peter Godber | 5 Things To Know About The Hulking Lineman – BC Lions

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Hes not just a promising young offensive lineman with a cool hairdo! Like many of his Lions teammates, Peter Godber has taken an interesting path to the world of pro football. Along not only has Godber overcome some pretty heavy adversity on the injury front in order to work his way back to the top of the Lions depth chart, he also has plenty of big-game experience in college! Off the field, he enjoys spending time outdoors and learning about the human body. With that, we now present 5 Things To Know About Peter Godber.

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As the Lions were on the clock with pick number three of the 2018 CFL Draft, Peter was at home in the Toronto area eagerly anticipating a call at some point near the top of that first round.

When his phone rang and Geroy Simons name popped up on the screen, he couldnt believe it. After all, Geroy was one of his favourite players growing up, especially after he got the chance to meet number 81 as a kid during some Grey Cup festivities in Toronto.

I still have the T-Shirt in my closet with his autograph on it. So it was kind of surreal for me to get a call from him, he said on draft night in 2018.

It truly is remarkable how things can come full circle in life.

Godber enjoyed a very successful career at Rice University, suiting up in 48 contests over four seasons with 35 starts. Along with playing both right and left guard, he helped the program to more than a few big victories over that span.

The 2013 Owls squad defeated Marshall to win Conference USA and then accepted an invitation to the Liberty Bowl where they fell to Mississipi State. The following year ended with a 30-6 win over Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl where he and the big boys up front helped them churn out 600 yards of total offence. Godber proudly wears his rings from the Conference title and bowl game victory.

We mentioned he grew up in Toronto, so it comes as no surprise that the 63, 305-pound offensive lineman uses one of the best in the league as a template. Godber has always tried to model his game after long-time Toronto Argonauts and current Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive tackle Chris Van Zeyl (pictured below).

Not a bad guy to look up to. A three-time CFL All-Star and two-time Grey Cup winner with the Argos, Van Zeyl also knows a thing or two about longevity as he has logged 173 career games in his first 11 seasons.

Photo: Johany Jutras

Which isnt surprising when you consider everything he accomplished to overcome his scary foot injury. Peter recently took an online course at Harvard on cognitive fitness that covered diet, exercise and sleep. Once his football days are over, he has thought about either opening a gym, becoming a personal trainer or getting his Masters Degree after studying kinesiology and sport management at Rice.

Peter also loves encouraging youngsters to be fit and active. Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, he and Denver Broncos lineman Calvin Anderson- a former Rice teammate- were planning a football camp for kids.

And no, were not talking about Ric Flair. When he hasnt been working out with teammates at the facility, Peter has spent a lot of his social distancing time outdoors at some of the more scenic parks in the lower mainland. Along with taking in the sites, he really enjoys hiking.

Ive probably hit up every scenic park within 45 minutes of where I live, he said.

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com

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Peter Godber | 5 Things To Know About The Hulking Lineman - BC Lions

High Levels of Iron in the Body Leads to Decreased Healthspan and Lifespan – Dual Dove

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Broad new research has found proof that blood iron levels could play a crucial part in impacting how long you live. Usually, it is best to take longevity studies with a grain of salt, but the new paper is remarkable in its breadth, analyzing genetic information for more than one million people across three different public databases.

The study also focused on three main measures of aging: lifespan, healthspan, which are years lived free of disease, and longevity.

Throughout the research, ten key regions of the genome were proved to be related to these measures of long life, as well as gene sets associated with how the body metabolizes iron.

Simply put, having too much iron in the blood seemed to be connected to an increased risk of dying earlier.

We are very excited by these findings as they strongly suggest that high levels of iron in the blood reduce our healthy years of life, and keeping these levels in check could prevent age-related damage,says data analyst Paul Timmers, from the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. We speculate that our findings on iron metabolism might also start to explain why very high levels of iron-rich red meat in the diet has been linked to age-related conditions such as heart disease.

While correlation doesnt always mean causation, the scientists used a statistical technique known asMendelian randomizationto decrease bias and attempt to deduce causation in the data.

Micrograph of liver biopsy showing iron deposits due to haemosiderosis, the most important cause of iron overload. [Image: Wikipedia]As researchers detail, genetics are believed to have around a ten percent influence on lifespan and healthspan, and that can make it rather hard to pick out the genes involved from all the other aspects, such as smoking, eating, and drinking habits.

Five of the genetic markers the scientists found had not previously been considered significant at the genome-wide level. Some, such asAPOEandFOXO3, have been particularly discussed in the past as being important to the aging process and human health.

It is clear from the association of age-related diseases and the well-known aging loci APOE and FOXO3 that we are capturing the human aging process to some extent, the researchers write in theirpublished paper.

Besides genetics, blood iron is usually controlled by diet and has already been associated with a few age-related diseases, such asParkinsons, andliver disease. It also impacts our bodys capacity tofight off infectionas we get older.

This latest research can be added to the increasing evidence that iron overload or not being able to break it down properly, can have an impact on how long were likely to live, as well as the health status were likely to be in our later years.

Our ultimate aim is to discover how aging is regulated and find ways to increase health during aging,says Joris Deelen,who studies the biology of aging at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Germany. The ten regions of the genome we have discovered that are linked to lifespan, healthspan, and longevity are all exciting candidates for further studies.

The paper detailing the findings has been published inNature Communications.

Known for her passion for writing, Paula contributes to both Science and Health niches here at Dual Dove.

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High Levels of Iron in the Body Leads to Decreased Healthspan and Lifespan - Dual Dove

Messenger of DNA, Therapeutics and Coronavirus: How are they all linked? – PLoS Blogs

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

This blog was written by Ashley Chin, BSc, a PhD candidate in the Division of Experimental Medicine at McGill University and Montreal Clinical Research Institute. Her research areas of interest include RNA and cell biology.

The answer lies in RNA. As we may know from the central dogma of molecular biology, RNA is best known as a messenger for DNA. Genetic information is passed on from DNA, to messenger RNA (mRNA), to protein. However, this dogma has led to an overly simplistic view. In the last few decades, scientists have dedicated themselves toward understanding the role that RNA molecules may play beyond being a simple genetic blueprint. They realize that having proper control over these microscopic regulators can translate into macroscopic health benefits in animals, including human. As such, the search for innovative RNA-based therapeutics have set sail.

An Emerging Drug for Mankind

For many years, RNAs have been deemed to be easily degraded and too cumbersome to be manipulated in the laboratory. Any scientists working with RNA would agree with this. This is because the human body is constantly releasing RNases into the environment, enzymes that are used for degrading RNA during normal cellular maintenance and for protecting us against harmful microorganisms. Although this benefit may initially seem like an advantage to you, it has in fact prevented scientists from using RNA as a potential therapeutic for many years, until some recent breakthroughs.

In recent years, RNAs are being explored as a new class of pharmaceutical target and drug, especially as vaccines for neurological disorders and infectious diseases (1-3). For example, to treat children with a crippling neurodegenerative disease called spinal muscular atrophy, building upon the initial RNA research conducted by Adrian Krainer and C. Frank Bennett, who were co-recipients of the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, one pharmaceutical company and biotech teamed up to harness the power of antisense oligonucleotide therapy, a novel technique whereby carefully modified versions of DNAs are introduced into the cells (1-3). This is achieved by injecting the modified molecules into the fluid surround the spinal cord as a way to alter mRNA splicing, an editing process that is crucial for maintaining genetic information in the cells (1, 3). Additionally, last year, in a study conducted by Feldman and colleagues, they successfully produced effective mRNA vaccines against the influenza A viruses, the mastermind behind seasonal flu every winter. The researchers specifically targeted the H10N8 and H7N9 influenza strains that surfaced in 2013 by producing vaccines that contained chemically modified, full-length forms of those virus mRNAs. The vaccines were given in the deltoid muscle surrounding the shoulder during phase 1 of the clinical trial and yielded promising immune response from healthy participants (4).

What about the pandemic that is currently taking the world by storm paralyzing our daily routines, sinking the global economy and killing countless lives? In fact, much like the mRNA vaccine mentioned above, scientists are working at unprecedented pace to explore the feasibility of using mRNA vaccines to combat SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that is causing COVID-19 (5). This is because the traditional form of vaccines we are used to, which usually works by introducing a weakened or dead form of the virus to the body, requires a lengthy manufacturing time. Take the typical seasonal flu shots, an egg-based vaccine, as a more recent example, the virus needs to be first injected into a fertilized chickens eggs, where the selected virus strains incubate and replicate. Following, the viral containing fluids need to be harvested and deactivated before the purified virus antigen can be used in a vaccine (6). With the clock ticking and infection spreading as we speak, any mean to shorten vaccine manufacturing time is lifesaving.

RNA scientists believe mRNA vaccine can be a suitable solution in a time pressed pandemic as the mRNAs can serve as instruction molecules to direct a persons immune system to make their own protein reserve to combat a viral invasion. In this sense, the recipient uses the immune cells within its own body as a manufacturing hub for antibodies, rather than relying on external manufacturing capabilities, which is expected to save time when compared to traditional way of manufacturing vaccines.

In fact, albeit a development in progress, mRNA vaccines have other key advantages over traditional vaccines or DNA-based vaccine. The first and foremost is safety. mRNA is non-infectious, so it will not be integrated into the recipients genome and it can be digested by normal cellular processes. Through various chemical modifications, the longevity of these mRNAs in the body can be controlled. Additionally, the efficiency of mRNA delivery can be increased through designing and packaging the mRNA into protective, carrier molecules, which would enhance stability and encourage rapid uptake by the cells (7). Furthermore, mRNA vaccine can not only be a rapid alternative, but it is also scalable, as it relies on in vitro transcriptions, chemical reactions that are commonly practiced in laboratories, rather than relying on external factors such as the availability of hens eggs in addition to laboratory manipulation (6, 7).

As such, a large mRNA-based biotech is evaluating mRNA-1273 as a putative candidate vaccine for the novel coronavirus (5). The concept surrounding its vaccine is to inject a portion of mRNA that codes for the spike-like protein that is located on the surface of the virus, which allows it to bind to and invade human cells. In this fashion, the synthetic mRNA can travel throughout the bodies of their recipients, stimulating their immune systems to produce beneficial antibodies against the spike protein. Thus, when someone is exposed to the virus, the antibodies will be able to stop an infection by coating spike protein on the virus surface and preventing its capacity to attach to cells. Phase 1 clinical trial consisted of 8 healthy participants and yielded a positive outlook in terms of safety and efficacy. Phase 2, involving a few hundred healthy participants, is currently underway. If all goes well, phase 3 is scheduled to commence in the coming weeks (8).

Similarly, using mRNA-based technology, a pharmaceutical giant has teamed up with another biotech to develop a coronavirus vaccine (5). The most promising vaccine candidate is named mRNA-BNT162b1. This mRNA codes for a receptor binding domain antigen that is found on SARS-CoV-2, a portion of the protein that is required for the virus to bind to human cell. These companies have started phase 1/2 of their clinical trial, which consists of 45 healthy participants. Although some minor but not serious adverse effects were observed, the vaccine generated neutralizing antibodies that are predicted to prevent the coronavirus from operating. In fact, following two administrations of the low doses tested, the concentration of these antibodies were 1.8-2.8 times when compared to recovered patients (9). Nevertheless, whether higher concentration equates to immunity against the coronavirus remains to be tested (9, 10). Phase 2b/3 of the clinical trial is expected to start in few weeks (9).

At this point, due to the inherent complexity of our biological systems and the development of an effective vaccine, only time will tell whether we can effectively fight RNA with RNA. Afterall, this novel coronavirus is an RNA virus and it would be interesting to see if we can give it a taste of its own medicine by using synthetic mRNA molecule to create protein that our own immune systems can learn to combat. This is an exciting era for RNA researchers, as the world anxiously awaits its good news.

Although we have only discussed mRNA vaccines in the context of COVID-19, around the world, there are many other types of vaccine being explored in parallel. With the urgency of this matter, we certainly do not want to put all our eggs in one basket and concurrent vaccine development using a diversity of approaches are warranted.

Perspectives

We are only beginning to understand the many roles that RNAs play in our world. With the rapid technological advances, RNA-based therapies hold great promise for improving modern medicine within the foreseeable future, but much work remains to be done before it can establish itself as an efficient, scalable and go-to clinical solution. It may potentially serve as a great alternative or replacement for gene therapy against certain diseases. This is especially true since mRNA will not integrate into the host genome, minimizing the risk of unpredictable outcome associated with gene therapy.

References

1. Mercuri, E., et al. (2018). Nusinersen versus sham control in later-onset spinal muscular atrophy. N Engl J Med, 378, 625-635.

2. Garde, D. (2018). Researchers behind Biogens breakthrough drug win big at Oscars of science. Statnews. https://www.statnews.com/2018/10/17/researchers-behind-biogens-breakthrough-drug-win-big-at-oscars-of-science/

3. Bennett, C., Krainer, A., & Cleveland, D.W. (2019). Antisense oligonucleotide therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 42, 385-406.

4. Feldman, R.A., et al. (2019). mRNA vaccines against H10N8 and N7N9 influenza viruses of pandemic potential are immunogenic and well tolerated in healthy adults in phase 1 randomized clinical trials. Vaccine, 37, 3326-3334.

5. Servick, K. (2020). Meet the company that has just begun testing a coronavirus vaccine in the United States. Sciencemag. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/mysterious-2-billion-biotech-revealing-secrets-behind-its-new-drugs-and-vaccines

6. Yeung, J. (2020). The US keeps millions of chickens in secret farms to make flu vaccines. But their eggsw ont work for coronavirus. CNN Health. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/27/health/chicken-egg-flu-vaccine-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

7. Pardi, N., et al. (2018). mRNA vaccines a new era in vaccinology. Nature Reviews, 17, 261-279.

8. Grady, D. (2020). Moderna coronavirus vaccine trial shows promising early results. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/health/coronavirus-vaccine-moderna.html

9. Pfizer and BioNTect. (2020). Pfizer and BioNTect announce early positive data from an ongoing phase study of mRNA-based vaccine candidate against SARS-COV-2. Pfizer News. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-early-positive-data-ongoing-0

10. Herper, M. (2020). Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTect shows positive results. CNBC Newsletters. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/01/coronavirus-vaccine-from-pfizer-and-biontech-shows-positive-results-report-says.html

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Messenger of DNA, Therapeutics and Coronavirus: How are they all linked? - PLoS Blogs

Why antioxidants are so important to your overall health – Insider – INSIDER

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Antioxidants have generated quite the buzz in recent years as a category of substances known to delay cell damage. While research indicates that antioxidants can reduce inflammation, it's still unclear exactly how this correlates with overall health.

Plus, antioxidant supplements aren't necessary if you're eating a healthy diet, and can be dangerous in some cases. For example, too much beta-carotene the chemical that makes carrots and sweet potatoes orange can increase the risk of cancer if you smoke.

In this article, we discuss what researchers know so far about the role of antioxidants and how to get enough in your diet.

Antioxidants are substances found in plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, pulses, coffee, and tea, along with supplements. They're essential to your health because antioxidants can prevent or delay cell damage caused by free radicals.

Free radicals are a normal byproduct of human life. For example, you produce them naturally in the form of lactic acid when you exercise. Free radicals can also come from outside sources like cigarette smoke, air pollution, certain medications, and sunlight.

The problem with free radicals is that they bind to cells in such a way that they damage the protein and DNA inside. However, that threat can be neutralized by antioxidants. That's why it's important to continually consume antioxidants in order to counter free radical damage in your body.

When you have too many free radicals running amok, it can cause cell damage particularly in cell membranes, fatty tissue, DNA, and proteins in the form of oxidative stress, which is associated with a number of diseases including:

However, just because antioxidants in the body can stave off oxidative stress doesn't mean that consuming antioxidants specifically can reduce your risk of disease.

There's no definitive answer to whether or not consuming antioxidants, either through food or supplements, reduces cancer risk or improves heart health, says Tim Spector, MD, FRCP, FRSB, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London. And any product marketing that says otherwise is pushing a wellness agenda that's not backed by research.

Ultimately, the health benefits associated with antioxidants likely goes hand-in-hand with the benefits of eating a diet rich in whole foods and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Scientists do know that antioxidants can help reduce inflammation, a process by which white blood cells protect your body from outside invaders like bacteria and viruses. When cells are damaged by an overabundance of free radicals, an inflammatory response can occur.

Your body naturally produces some helpful antioxidants in the form of glutathione and alpha lipoic acid. But you can also get antioxidants from your diet. Fruits, vegetables, and coffee are all rich in antioxidants.

There are thought to be hundreds, if not thousands, of substances that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants include vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene as well as minerals like selenium and manganese. They exist in many foods, from blueberries to dark chocolate.

A 2010 study, published in Nutrition Journal, looked at the antioxidant content of more than 3,100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs, and supplements, and found that a plant-based diet is best for protecting against oxidative stress. That's because plant-based foods have from 5 to 33 times more antioxidant content than meat products. According to the same study, some antioxidant-rich foods are:

Spector says it's important to note that there is no single, antioxidant-rich superfood out there. Therefore, eating the recommended five servings per day of fruits and vegetables is the best way to help ensure you're getting all the antioxidants you need.

You can also take antioxidant supplements, there is limited evidence supporting the benefits of consuming antioxidants in the form of supplements.

For example, a 2010 meta-analysis on antioxidant research, published in Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, noted that multiple large scale randomized clinical trials found no reduced risk for cardiovascular events in people who took antioxidant supplements.

And for a 2011 review article in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, researchers reporter that supplemental antioxidants may not offer the same sufficient protection as an antioxidant-rich diet from whole foods.

In fact, it can be difficult to disentangle the direct health benefits of antioxidants from the other nutrients in foods where they occur. Spector notes that antioxidants work best when consumed as whole foods in the form of vegetables, fruits, and legumes, for example.

Beyond diet, other healthy lifestyle choices like avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke and air pollutants, can reduce your risk of oxidative stress.

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‘The Good Place’ Cast May Have Unlocked the Secret to Ted Danson’s Success – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

When it comes to the cast of The Good Place, each of the six main actors bought incredible talent to the hit NBC comedy. But, though they are all talented, Kristen Bell (Eleanor), DArcy Carden (Janet), William Jackson Harper (Chidi), Jameela Jamil (Tahani), and Manny Jacinto (Jason) all seem to be in awe of Ted Danson (Michael). Considered a veteran in the industry, Danson has a resume that would make plenty of actors envious.

Danson is the epitome of what it means to have a career with longevity. Prior to joining the cast of The Good Place, hed been working in film and television for over 40 years. At 72 years old, Danson shows no signs of stopping anytime soon and has a new role lined up which is set to premiere in 2021. But what is the secret to his success?

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the cast of The Good Place talked about what its like to work closely with Danson. They all spoke very highly of the Cheers alum and identified some key qualities that likely contribute to his success. Funnily enough, Dansons success might have a lot to do with simply being a good person. Naturally, his talent speaks for itself. But, (according to his castmates) Danson is also incredibly giving, supportive, respectful, and just downright fun.

RELATED: Jameela Jamil Calls Out Kim Kardashian Again and Fans Are Confused

In the interview, Carden gushed about how Danson always made her feel supported in scenes no matter what. In the 7th episode of the first season of The Good Place, Carden had to do Janets best approximation of human crying. As she was in front of a huge crowd of extras, she felt a bit uncomfortable and self-conscious about the situation. Sensing her discomfort, Danson decided to join Carden for a take to make her feel more at ease.

We turned to each other one take and grabbed each others hands, and did the cry up into the heavens together. It was so refreshing, his way of being like, I got your back. Im here with you. Ill go where you go. And from that moment on, you forget that he is the legendary Ted Danson. Youre just like, Oh, this is just the best scene partner I could possibly have. Hes just down for whatever. He loves to play. So whatever you give him, he will return it. Its incredible, Carden gushed about her fellow castmate of The Good Place.

Harper also echoed Cardens thoughts stating that Danson always helps to create an incredibly welcoming environment that is enjoyable for all. Theres a reason that people like him continue to work. Because you want to come to work and enjoy it. You want to come to work and like the people that youre with. And thats something that, he sets the tone in so many ways. Hes like, Im Ted fu*king Damson but were all going to be fu*king ladies and gentlemen here. And were going to treat each other with respect, and were going to laugh. Were going to make jokes, and were going to be kind, The Good Place alum stated about Danson.

Clearly, Dansons fellow castmates had nothing but nice things to say about him. Its great that he is able to help create such warm environments for his fellow actors. Perhaps thats what helped The Good Place cast give such compelling performances. We look forward to seeing what other projects Danson gets up to in the future.

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Investing in Life Sciences Stocks and Companies – Nanalyze

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Nowhere will you find more exciting ideas to invest in than life sciences, a broad topic that encompasses around 30 different branches of study, each of which could take a lifetime to fully comprehend. As investors, we dont want to rely on subject matter experts to understand what a company does. If we cant understand a companys business, we dont want to invest in it. We also want to avoid businesses with no traction. Drug development companies with no revenues that are burning through cash trying to bring a drug to market have volatile share prices for a reason. That volatility represents uncertainty. We prefer to stick with businesses that are already selling a product or service which is generating strong revenue growth consistently. These are businesses that are leveraging life sciences technologies to achieve above-average growth.

In writing about life sciences over the past seven years, weve come across dozens of interesting life sciences companies innovating across the globe such as:

Oftentimes well find groups of startups trying to solve similar problems like creating treatments using the human microbiome or trying to cure hearing loss. Technologies like mobile health, telemedicine, and medical chatbots are democratizing access to healthcare services. Big data is helping us better treat mental health conditions while telepsychiatry now democratizes access to mental health professionals. Were now able to create bionic limbs, bionic eyes, bionic ears, bionic pancreases, and artificial hearts. Soon, we might be harvesting organs from pigs to help solve the kidney transplant problem. Robots are now performing surgeries, and it wont be long until robots are doing dental work as well. Were building labs in the cloud and organs on chips. Optogenetics lets us control cells in living tissues with light. Deep learning algorithms now discover drugs which are then administered using smart pills, smart inhalers, or even wireless drug delivery chips. Patient data is now stored using electronic medical records, data which can then be analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithms to provide things like personalized cancer treatments. When a baby is born, were able to store stem cells from cord blood and then use them for stem cell transplants later on in life. These are only the startups we know about, because many life sciences startups choose to operate in stealth mode.

Some of the problems were trying to solve are themselves emerging, such as trying to kill super bugs that stem from antibiotic resistance, or developing vaccines for new viruses like the rona. (Johnson & Johnson is pouring millions into developing a coronavirus vaccine.) Many of the problems being worked on involve cures that havent been developed yet, something we looked at in our when will there be a cure series.

Examples of innovation in life sciences abound, so weve tried to narrow it all down to six areas of focus weve been researching for investment opportunities.

Lets start with genomics.

Perhaps no field in life sciences shows more promise than that of genomics. Using genetic sequencing machines, scientists are not only able to read the recipes of life, theyre also able to edit them using technologies like gene editing. Full genome sequencing has now fallen below the $1,000 mark, and some companies now have their sites set on a $50 genome sequencing price point.

Huge databases of DNA data are now being mined for insights, and scientists are even able to reconstruct composite images of criminals form crime scenes using DNA, something referred to as DNA phenotyping.

The field of genomics is exploding as prices plummet, speeds increase, and companies continue to find new use cases. Venture capitalists are pouring money into genomics startups across the globe with China and America being seen as the current leaders in genomics. In the future, well have a world where everyone is given personalized medicine tailored to their unique genetic makeup. This is why genetic testing is becoming so popular, something well cover extensively later in this piece.

You cant talk about genomics without mentioning Illumina, a company that all but dominates the market for machines that perform gene sequencing. Weve been longtime shareholders in Illumina and added to our position back in 2016 when shares dipped to around $135 a share. As the cost of gene sequencing plummets, even more use cases are opening up for Illuminas machines leaving them plenty of room for growth. One company trying to disrupt this plan is Chinas BGI Genomics which hopes to provide an alternative for Chinese companies that dont want to use Illumina or Oxford Nanopore sequencing machines. (Oxford Nanopore is a private company that builds smaller gene sequencing devices that are less accurate.) Another publicly traded company to watch in the sequencing space is 10X Genomics which is working on single cell sequencing.

Not all genomics stocks are leaders. There are plenty of laggards, like Bionano Genomics (BNGO) which had an IPO back in 2018. The company sells instruments meant to complement next-generation sequencing machines like those sold by Illumina. Unfortunately, they couldnt grow revenues in 2019 while losses continued to increase. You cannot be in a high-growth market and not have the revenue growth to show for it.

Human longevity also referred to as life extension science involves extending the human lifespan by rolling back the effects of aging. Technologies like machine learning and genetic sequencing now mean were better able to understand the aging process. Companies like Googles Calico are analyzing millions of anonymous DNA samples in an attempt to better understand the effects of genetics on aging.Were now able to develop cellular medicines that uses live cells to repair the body.

Other companies are trying to increase the human lifespan by lengthening ones telomeres or by minimizing oxidization which causes aging. Venture capitalists are pouring money into dozens of startups tackling the aging problem in areas like regenerative medicine or young blood transfusions.

From an investors perspective, human longevity presents both risks and potential rewards as living another 20 years can have some dire effects on some peoples retirement plans. Of the top longevity companies out there, some are publicly traded. Just be aware that some companies out there are selling snake oil. Theyre preying on older people who have money and the desire to live longer. Just because someone says theyre selling anti-aging pills doesnt mean they actually work.

Weve talked before about how The Internet of Things promises to connect everything to the cloud with the byproduct being loads of big data. The same holds true in the medical industry where connected medical devices allow doctors to monitor patients vital signs from afar. Breath diagnostics devices allow us to more quickly diagnose medical conditions. Ultrasounds can now be performed with smartphones, and ultrasound technology itself is finding many other uses cases like breaking up blood clots that cause strokes. Newly developed medical devices are used to administer electroceutical therapies and wearables are helping to treat mental health.

Perhaps some of the biggest advancements are being made in medical imaging where deep learning algorithms are used to interpret medical imagery. Dozens of startups are now developing medical imaging AI algorithms to do everything from measuring breast density to preparing surgeons for surgery.

The increasing sophistication of medical devices and medical imaging algorithms mean that doctors are more easily able to treat patients from afar. Companies like Teladoc (TDOC) make it possible for anyone with $40 to speak with a doctor. For retail investors looking to invest in the telemedicine trend, Teladoc is probably the only telehealth stock to own. There are also many startups working on telehealth using technologies like machine learning to improve upon their offerings.

As we continue to develop more connected medical devices and generate more medical images, the amount of big data to analyze in healthcare is growing exponentially. Many data analytics businesses are emerging which use this data for predictive analytics or to identify inefficiencies in processes. The ability to remotely monitor patients means were able to treat more people, more effectively.

A good example of remote patient care can be found in iRhythm Technologies (IRTC). Theyve built their entire business around a medical device for remote cardiac monitoring. It comes in the form of a wearable that can capture up to two weeks of ECG data while allowing the patient to conduct their life in a perfectly normal fashion. All that data is then fed to a deep learning model capable of arrhythmia detection at a level comparable to a panel of expert cardiologists for a total of 12 output classes.

Most patient data is now stored electronically instead of being stuffed in some filing cabinet. This means a patients data can be shared across healthcare providers allowing for better care. For retail investors, there are a number of publicly traded companies working on electronic health records (EHRs) which are rapidly becoming the norm. Practice Fusion even offers EHRs for free because they know the value is in the data. Companies like Health Catalyst (HCAT) then apply healthcare data analytics to all this big data to create large-scale efficiencies.

A brain-computer interface might be the Holy Grail for human advancement. Just imagine being able to increase your brain storage capacity exponentially. And its not just about augmenting the human brain. Being able to interface with the human brain means we no longer need to use keyboards or mice. Dozens of startups are working on neurotech applications like neuroprosthetics which can rectify brain damage or neuromodulation which can be used for pain management.

Our brains contain about 2.5 petabytes (2,500,000 gigabytes) of storage, enough to store the entire contents of all US academic research libraries.Stentrodes and neural dust are just some of the methods being used to access this incredible biological data storage mechanism. Biohackers can even do this at home using technologies like OpenBCI.

If youre not familiar with the drug discovery process, its largely inefficient with billions of dollars being spent developing drugs that never actually get approved following clinical testing.

Plenty of companies are working on removing all the inefficiencies from the process. For example, a handful of startups are working on helping patients find clinical trials worldwide which they can then participate in from home. Some of the biggest advancements being made in drug discovery are the many computational drug discovery startups popping up which use machine learning to optimize the discovery process.

When drugs do get approved, some create more problems than they solve. Look no further than Americas addiction to opiates which helps explain the proliferation of startups developing substance abuse apps. Many mental health problems stem from drug abuse, so sometimes cognitive behavioral therapies are a better option than hard drugs. Some of the more severe mental health conditions like schizophrenia still arent being treated effectively which means theres still lots more work to be done.

There is no cure for cancer, theres only early detection which could make most cancers benign. Thats just one example where advancements in medical testing could prove to save lives and money, something that everyone working in medicine wants to do. Unfortunately there have been some setbacks for investors, the most notable being the implosion of Theranos. Elizabeth Crazy Eyes Holmes was behind the blood testing company which was fawned over by just about everyone. Now, shes facing criminal charges while other companies try to fill the Theranos void with their own platforms for blood testing. Some of these come in the form of mobile diagnostics platforms that can be used at the point of care.

Advances in medical testing run the gamut, from AI algorithms that detect Alzheimers to blood tests that detect cancer. Were now able to use next-generation sequencing technologies to identify genomic sequences of pathogens that are present in a patients blood or even circulating tumor cells that indicate cancer. Were even working on building the tricorder from Star Trek.

Many companies are now able to detect the presence of cancer in biofluids like blood or urine. It isnt just about early detection, its also about monitoring the progress of cancer treatments. Traditionally, a doctor would take a piece of a tumor a biopsy in order to determine if it is cancerous or benign. Now, many startups are developing liquid biopsies or blood tests that are capable of detecting cancer. One publicly traded in this space is Guardant Health (GH), an $8 billion precision oncology company that primarily sells cancer blood tests.

Once a type of cancer has been identified, we can then use next-generation sequencing to identify cancer-associated alterations thatcan be attacked usingtargeted therapies.Foundation Medicine is a leader in this space with one of the worlds largest cancer genomic databases, holding more than 400,000 genomic profiles. The company had an IPO back in 2013 and got into bed with Roche a few years later. They were finally acquired by Roche in 2018.

Across the pond we have a few publicly traded companies in this space as well. Angle (AGL:LN), a $95 million company which continues to bleed cash while generating minuscule revenues, offers liquid biopsies. Oxford Immunotec (OXFD) is having a bit better luck on the revenue side of things with their blood test for tuberculosis.

Apocell used to be publicly traded but has since been taken private. Theres also a Japanese firm called Sysmex (6869:JP) which is the global market leader inhematology,occupying the number-oneshare of theworldwide market. They have a subsidiary called Sysmex Inostics which has developed an ultra-sensitivedigital PCR technologythat is capable of detecting cancer cell DNA directly from blood.

Blood isnt the only bodily byproduct used to detect cancer. A $13 billion company called Exact Sciences (EXAS) sells a stool DNA test for colorectal cancer. Exosome Diagnostics acquired by Bio-Techne is developing a urine test for prostate cancer. All these samples flying around mean that entire businesses are now being built around the storage and transportation of biological samples.

There are also companies developing cancer therapies that are fine-tuned to certain genomic profiles like personalized chemotherapy. This is where some genetics testing comes in handy.

To say that genetic testing has exploded is an understatement. There are now genetic tests for nearly everything, including genetics tests for pets. In looking at some of these testing use cases, they seem to be borderline gimmicks like DNA dating or genetic fitness tests. Others provoke a great deal of controversy, like genetic tests for intelligence. There are now DNA apps for nearly everything, but where it all started was with ancestry genetic tests.

Large ancestry testing companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com quickly realized that the real value to be had was not in selling genetic tests, but collecting genetic data and monetizing it. This quickly led to privacy concerns around genetic data. As more and more companies started offering genetic testing services, the big providers started to pivot into genetic healthcare tests for hereditary diseases like cancer or heart disease. Soon, this started to attract the attention of regulatory authorities. Telling someone their dad isnt their dad isnt nearly as painful as mistakenly getting a double mastectomy because a genetic test said you were at risk for breast cancer. Youd be surprised to see how many ancestral differences you get when you run the same DNA sample through multiple test providers. (This is why Family Tree DNA offers a central DNA results database where you can upload all your test results.) When it comes to health related genetics testing, accuracy is paramount.

The evolution of genetics testing is now leading to new business models that try to adapt to the environment. Nebula now offers anonymous DNA testing. Centogene is building the worlds largest repository for genetic information on rare hereditary diseases in the world. Were learning more about how polygenic risk scores can help predict disease. Being able to interpret genetic data is becoming much easier thanks to technologies like machine learning. Even with all these new technologies, theres still an important human element to the whole thing. Finding out that youre at risk for hereditary cancer isnt all that useful unless someone tells you exactly what that means and what steps you should take if any.

For retail investors, theres one pure-play genetic testing stock you ought to consider which just expanded into personalized oncology with their acquisition of ArcherDX Invitae (NVTA). Since we first came across the company seven years ago, theyve come a long way.

Some other themes weve looked at manifest themselves over time as we notice their prevalence. For example, who knew that diabetes would be such a big industry.

All these people who talk about how big is beautiful need to realize that its just not. Sure, there are some cultures that glorify obesity because it represents wealth and security. In America, fat asses abound because people drive up to windows to consume two days of calories in one seating which they then wash down with a diet soda.

The hard truth is that obesity is unhealthy and a contributing factor to a huge global problem diabetes. Weve talked before about why there isnt a cure for diabetes yet. Until there is, we need to treat the more than 100 million U.S. adults who are now living with diabetes or prediabetes.

All kinds of companies are working on diabetes treatments. Dance Biopharm (now Aerami Therapeutics) is working on an inhaled insulin product. Intarcia Therapeutics is working on a potential once-a-year diabetes treatment. But no matter how compelling these products sound, there will be failures, like Cellnovos attempt at developing insulin pumps. Kind of hard to compete with Medtronic (MDT), one of the worlds biggest medical device makers, which already has that sorted with a digital form of an artificial pancreas. (Full disclosure: were long-time shareholders in MDT for dividend growth reasons.)

Another theme we looked at for a bit was non invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) which is pretty much what it says on the tin. Its a test that makes sure your little bundle of joy doesnt pop out with two heads, or be afflicted by any malady that would interfere with the perfect life youve planned for it. Plenty of companies are dabbling in this space, like Ariosa Diagnostics which was acquired by Roche since we last looked at them. Other publicly traded stocks in this space include Natera (NTRA) and Premaitha Health (YGEN:LN) which now goes under the name Yourgene.

We stopped looking at NIPT because we believed the NIPT growth story might be ending. We also didnt find the topic to be that interesting frankly unless of course they come out with a NIPT for intelligence which wed probably invest in.

Stem cells are kind of like a foundation cell that various types of other cells get built on like muscle cells or brain cells. These are useful for applications like regenerating body parts or figuring out what makes cancer cells replicate. One company we looked at, Cellular Dynamics, was in the business of producing stem cells. Theyve since been acquired by Fujifilm Holdings. Another company we looked at was Fate Therapeutics (FATE) which uses renewable master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines to produce cellular immunotherapies. We have no idea what that actually means, which is why were not investors in the company. We only like to invest in businesses we can easily understand.

Over the years of developing our life sciences topics, we encountered quite a few companies that we just didnt fully understand. Roivant Sciences was one of them. So were the nant companies coming from the brain of Dr. Soon Shiong, one of the worlds most successful biotech investors. Its very difficult to understand some of these businesses without having a medical background, and if you need eight years of training to understand what a company does, its probably too complex for retail investors. Weve given up on trying to figure out how Nanthealth will revolutionize the U.S. healthcare system, or what Nantkwest does, and instead stick to companies with business models anyone can understand. Another area of life sciences weve looked into before but decided not to follow is RNAi therapeutics.

Another area we looked at briefly was RNAi therapeutics and publicly-traded RNAi companies like Benitec, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, or Moderna which has soared after going public due to their work on a coronavirus vaccine. To this day, we still dont feel like we sufficiently understand what many of these companies do which means were not able to properly explain them to our readers. Instead of spending hours trying to understand how microRNA relates to RNAi, were staying away from drug development companies entirely. Even if a company has the greatest drug development platform in the world, theres always a risk theyll fail given all the pitfalls of drug development we discussed earlier. The exception to that rule might be the drug development arm of Johnson & Johnson, a company we hold as part of our dividend growth investing strategy.

Fields like cancer immunotherapy, cancer stem cell research, or epigenetics may have loads of promise, but most of these investments are just too complex for your average Joe investor to understand without having an interpreter. Lets talk about some stocks that you dont need an interpreter to understand.

Given the breadth of technologies to be found under life sciences we often take fleeting looks at companies that are doing cool things without necessarily doing any deep-dives or follow ups. These one-offs are oftentimes stocks or planned IPOs we come across that we think our readers might find interesting.

One thing all these stocks have in common is that theyre traded on major exchanges unlike penny stocks which you should avoid like the plague.

We never skip a chance to warn investors about the dangers to be found when dabbling in penny stocks (also called over-the-counter (OTC) stocks). Here are just some of the OTC companies weve written about.

Investing in any these companies would have proved to be a total disaster. Of course there are always some exceptions, but why try to walk through landmines to find them? Do not speculate on penny stocks, no matter how compelling their story is.

Oftentimes well come across micro-cap stocks on foreign exchanges which well write about. More often than not, these companies will end up going nowhere fast. Kiwi company Adherium (ADR:AU) was supposed to bring us intelligent inhalers. While investors continue to wait, their share price continues to plummet. We warned investors that Canadian firm BioMark Diagnostics (BUX:CN) might not have what it takes to bring cancer blood tests to market, and the company still appears to be going nowhere fast. Londons Tissue Regenix (TRX:LN) was working on some exciting new skin scaffolds, but you would have lost -90% of your investment waiting for them to finally start achieving some traction. Even though revenues are picking up and losses are trending in the right direction, shares continue their long downward slide. Its best not to try and catch a falling knife.

Some readers may wonder why we havent touched on one of the most exciting technology there is synthetic biology. Thats because weve dedicated an entire page to synthetic biology, our Guide to Investing in Synthetic Biology. The same holds true for gene editing, something we covered in our Guide to Investing in Gene Editing Stocks. We happen to classify gene editing and synthetic biology under our nanotechnology category, so you may want to go read our Guide to Investing in Nanotechnology Stocks and Companies next. Because life sciences is such a broad category, youll find it peppered throughout all the twelve categories of disruptive technologies we cover here at Nanalyze. For example, machine learning algorithms are now helping us understand extremely complex things such as the human microbiome.

Sure, you can cure your STDs without going to a doctor, but developing something as simple as a universal flu vaccine is still out of reach. While plenty of progress is being made in life sciences, there are still plenty of diseases we cant cure and problems we cant solve. Its safe to say that investors will continue to reap rewards by investing in life sciences companies for decades to come.

Interested in hearing more about investing in life sciences companies and stocks?Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Well keep you up-to-date on life sciences investments and all the disruptive technologies out there that ought to be on investors radar. No politics, no B.S., no corporate buzzword bingo.Click here to sign up for Nanalyze Weekly.

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Investing in Life Sciences Stocks and Companies - Nanalyze

Drs. Oz and Roizen: Vitamin K kick-starts a younger, healthier old age – The Union Leader

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Kevin Special K Daley played with the Harlem Globetrotters, and was the body double for a young Michael Jordan in a 2002 Gatorade commercial; Alan Special K Kulwicki was the NASCAR 1986 Rookie of the Year; and pro tennis player Athanasios Special K Kokkinakis defeated No. 1-ranked Roger Federer in the second round of the 2018 Miami Open.

All special for sure, but theyve got nothing on how special vitamin K is when it comes to protecting your longevity. New research out of Tufts Universitys USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging found that older adults with low vitamin K levels (below 0.5 nanomoles per liter) had a 19% higher risk of all-cause death over 13 years when compared with those who had adequate blood levels (more than 1.0 nmol/L).

Whats so special about vitamin K? It is essential for bone and blood vessel health and blood clotting. To make sure you have enough K-power, women 19 and older should consume 90 micrograms daily, men 120. Food sources supply plenty: Half a cup of blueberries delivers 14 mcg; half a cup of edamame, 21 mcg; half a cup of broccoli, 110 mcg; a cup of raw spinach, 145 mcg; and a half a cup of frozen/boiled collards, 530 mcg!

You do make another form of K called K2 (aka menaquinone) in your gut, but little is known about how much is absorbed or what stimulates the production. K2 is also found in fermented foods like nato (fermented soybeans) and sauerkraut. As Dana Carveys Church Lady used to say, Now, isnt that special?

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of The Dr. Oz Show, and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into The Dr. Oz Show or visit http://www.sharecare.com.

2020 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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Drs. Oz and Roizen: Vitamin K kick-starts a younger, healthier old age - The Union Leader

The communication renaissance interrupting the old world – Investment Magazine

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Not such a long time ago, we lived in a world where people believed what companies and advertising agencies told them about a product or service. Individuals gathered around their television screens to receive a steady stream of information and listen intently to the truth delivered.

The change came with the evolution of technology; suddenly there were rivers of information flowing to these same people, in their same houses. They tried to keep up, taking in what the rivers had to tell them, but the quality was declining as the speed increased relentlessly. Soon enough, a tsunami of information flooded through peoples houses, bowling them over and disrupting their day-to-day living. Consumers have been living amidst this content flood for quite a few years now, and its fair to say they are fed-up, much smarter and more distrusting.

The modern world is in the midst of a communication renaissance. The old model of interruptive advertising does not work anymore.

Today, people are looking for guides. They are looking for products and services that will genuinely support them, that they can connect with, and not those that will interrupt, distract and solely exploit them for financial gain.

So, how do companies effectively and communicate key messages in the current climate?

Companies need to offer value by engaging people in a conversation that lets them know they understand what the customer is going through, what problem they are facing, that they empathise with them and are here to help. A secure emotional connection between companies and our customers should not be underestimated, especially at this time of uncertainty. It establishes trust, loyalty and longevity in the relationship.

Importantly, we need to stop talking about ourselves, how fast and efficient our services are and how many awards we have won. Most people are juggling and struggling with everything already on their plate, and we need to offer something genuinely helpful for people to listen.

To help us build trust, we can call upon a tool in our communication arsenal, both compelling and old in equal measure: story. Humans are story seeking creatures, and we are hard-wired for them. As much as 65 per cent of all human interactions take the form of social storytelling. Listening to stories activates the auditory cortex and left temporal cortex of our brain. We are receptive to stories, we learn from them, and when they exist, there is more potential for a more significant emotional connection. Fundamentally, it is a universal language we all respond to, and it can help us create clear and compelling communication.

Annette Simmons, the author of The Story Factor, says, People want faith, they want faith in you. It is possible by tapping into the story of our customer, understanding what they truly want, what problem they are encountering and offering our service as the trusted guide. Getting clear on our brands narrative creates clear, relevant messages that cut through the content chaos of today.

To be clear, this is not about writing a fanciful fantasy for our customers, but employing a basic story-framework (used by most script-writers) to guide us in creating compelling brand narratives. We are building a story for our brand. The story brand framework supports us in understanding our customers better and what motivates them. To foster authenticity and effectively communicate through our marketing channels: on our websites, through emails, sales letters, keynotes and more. We see successful brand stories displayed by some of the largest companies in the world, including Apples Think Different, Nikes Just Do It, North Faces Never Stop Exploring. It is fair to say that without a clear story today, people just wont listen.

Here are three principles of Donald Millers story branding framework to consider:

Firstly, we, as the company, need to adjust our perspective to see our customers as the hero of the story. What do they want? The story only begins when a hero knows what they want and set out to achieve that goal. What do your customers genuinely want and need from you right now? The clarity of this answer is essential to stay relevant and become genuinely helpful.

Secondly, we, as the company, need to position ourselves as the guide. Most stories have a guide that supports the hero along the journey. They understand the problem and offer them a plan, a tool or some wisdom to help them overcome it. By positioning our company as the guide, we can employ two crucial traits of empathy and authority. We make ourselves the trusted resource to help them overcome their challenge. Communication expert, Nancy Duarte affirms this by saying, position yourself as Yoda and your audience as Luke Skywalker. It is a small but powerful shift that honours the journey of the audience and positions us as a leader providing wisdom, products and services with our audience to survive. To clarify our role as guide, we ask the question, who or what is opposing the hero getting what they want? Simply, identify the problem you are helping to solve.

Finally, the company needs to understand the transformation to be supported. Stories transform the hero. What will the heros life look like after you have helped them overcome the challenge? Branding messages need to speak to this shift to let people know how we can help them transform from weak to strong, instability to security, chaos to simplicity. How will it make their life better?

A compelling story can aid companies to float on the river of this communication renaissance. Companies begin to take charge and steer the boat when they identify what their customer needs, address the overwhelming problem they are experiencing and offer them a lifeboat to help. Consumers are looking out for these invitations and messages to help them survive and thrive, ones that they can trust to guide them to safety.

Samantha Herbert will be speaking the upcoming FEAL National Conference on identifying common values and shared belief systems to build empathy and resilience via the art of story-branding.

To register for Resilience, How to survive and thrive in a time of disruption on Thursday 6th August 2020

Visitwww.feal.asn.au/virtual-feal-conference-2020/

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The communication renaissance interrupting the old world - Investment Magazine

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market to Offer Lucrative Growth Prospects for Manufacturers by 2026 – Daily Research Chronicles

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The strategy analysis on Global Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market gives insights of market size, trends, share, growth, development plans, Investment Plan, cost structure and drivers analysis. With precise data covering all key aspects of the existing market, this report offers existing data of leading manufacturers. The Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market report covers marketing channels and market positioning to potential growth strategies, providing in-depth analysis for new competitors or exists competitors in the Mesenchymal Stem Cells industry. The Report Gives Detail Analysis on Market concern Like Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market share, CAGR Status, Market demand and up to date Market Trends with key Market segments. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Mesenchymal Stem Cells manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market covering all important parameters.

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Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market to Offer Lucrative Growth Prospects for Manufacturers by 2026 - Daily Research Chronicles

Blue California Files Patent on the Use of Ergothioneine as a Support for Oxidative Stress Related Health Conditions, including COVID-19 -…

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif and Bedford, Mass., July 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue California, a science-based, innovative ingredient solution provider, has just filed for a patent on therapeutic uses of the ingredient Ergothioneine. This follows Blue Californias Feb. 2020 patent application reporting the discovery that Ergothioneine inhibits the shortening of telomeres typically associated with oxidative stress. Specifically, it claims that Ergothioneine can mitigate oxidative stress triggering the inflammatory response in many chronic conditions associated with heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Also, in support of other oxidative conditions associated with oxidative stress including COVID-19 as well as other viral diseases.

Blue California has been at the forefront of research and development regarding Ergothioneine using our branded ingredient ErgoActive, stated Dr. Priscilla Samuel, chief science officer at Blue California, We have found through our research that Ergothioneine has tremendous potential to combat oxidative stress and health conditions associated with it.

Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid normally provided to the body from dietary sources such as mushrooms in which it is particularly rich. Humans produce a highly specific transport protein called OCTN1 for Ergothioneine, leading many to speculate about its importance to human health.1 It is a super antioxidant, and renowned scientist Dr. Bruce Ames has even proposed classifying it as a longevity vitamin.2

The possibilities for ErgoActive to be incorporated in an immune health supplement or in a functional food or beverage are immense, commented Katie Ferren, vice president of sales and marketing at Blue California. This opens up the door for support in some exciting health applications.

Blue California is one of the only companies in the United States that has received a no-objection from the FDA to its GRAS notification on Ergothioneine with their branded ingredient ErgoActive. The company exclusively manufactures and distributes ErgoActive for Conagen, a greater Boston area biotechnology company with a large portfolio of products for the food, nutrition, and pharma markets. Vice President of Innovation at Conagen Dr. Casey Lippmeier explains, ErgoActive is an ideal nutrient and we produce it with a proprietary fermentation process. Ours is the only sustainable, commercially available source of Ergothioneine which does not rely on chemical synthesis or extraction from mushrooms.

Blue California and Conagen are eager for next steps. Blue California recently invested in both in vitro and in vivo research of ErgoActive. We will be studying how Ergothioneine supplementation can support various health benefits, including immune health. We also look forward to clinical studies that further test and demonstrate these novel benefits included in our patent application, and in the emerging scientific literature, said Dr. Samuel.

ErgoActive is a registered trademark of Blue California, Inc.

References:

About Blue California and Conagen

Blue Californiaprovides innovative solutions to global partners in the development and manufacture of botanical extracts and other unique ingredients. With more than 20 years of innovation, our ingredients are used in commercial products and applications in the industries of nutrition, personal care, healthy aging and wellness, functional food and beverage, and beauty. http://www.bluecal-ingredients.com

Conagen is making the impossible possible. Our scientists and engineers are bettering humankind and the world by employing advanced synthetic biology tools for the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavor and fragrance, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. http://www.conagen.com

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Blue California Files Patent on the Use of Ergothioneine as a Support for Oxidative Stress Related Health Conditions, including COVID-19 -...

Fossil Fuels And Nuclear Power The World – OpEd – Eurasia Review

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Fossil fuels and nuclear energy to electricity power approximately 90% of global energy consumption according to the British Petroleum Statistical Review of World Energy 2020. Energy consumption behemoths China and Japan have left behind heavily subsidized, chaotically intermittent wind turbine and solar panel farms to build hundreds of New-Age Coal-Fired Plants. Coal-fired power plants, which are reliable, energy-dense, abundant, scalable and affordable are being built at such a rapid clip that any global, western environmental gains are being negated over the unreliability of renewables. According to the International Energy Agencys (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2019:

While the importance of transitioning to a carbon-neutral world is recognized, society is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Economic growth and a rising global population means that renewable energy sources (primarily the wind and sun) cant keep up with worldwide energy demand.

Reliable energy and electricity are a top national security concern the same way a nuclear arsenal is for first, second, and third world nations. China and Japan are simply keeping up with each other economically, militarily, and diplomatically by building hundreds of coal-fired power plants. Coal delivers continuous electricity 24/7/365 for Asia and the world. Why wouldnt both countries build coal-fired plants, and use them? When global environmentalist, Bjorn Lomberg says: there are Global priorities bigger than climate change. Mr. Lomberg is correct.

Both Asian powerhouses, and the billions without electricity are going to use anything possible (coal, natural gas, oil, petroleum, nuclear, future technologies) to acquire energy and electricity. Does any rational, non-ideological person believe Asia led by China and India are going to de-carbonize by de-industrializing? Fossil fuels will also rule in Africa, which is expected to add more than a half a billion people (to its) urban population by 2040.

In context, China didnt add this many people during its population boom between 1990-2010. Industrial and residential electrification using fossil fuels and nuclear are what billions in Africa and Asia need. For renewables to grow as a major source of energy to electricity:

Remove (taxpayer) subsidies, mandates and other forms of energy favoritism by letting technologies advance or fail in markets based upon their own true merit or lack thereof.

Otherwise, billions will suffer from the get-off-fossil-fuels-and-nuclear movement, and the consequences of various policy regimes denying consumers choices to best satisfy their energy usage requirement. Besides trying to ban fossil fuels and nuclear the De-carbonization movement is killing electrical generation for non-advanced countries, and continents. The costs are over $10 trillion annually.

Advanced countries such as China, India, Japan, and the U.S. use fossil fuels, because over 6,000 everyday products come from the derivatives of petroleum. Fossil fuels are also known energy-dense quantities. Energy density is defined as:

The energy stored per pound (and) is the critical metric for vehicles and, especially, aircraft, cruise ships and merchant ships. The maximum potential energy contained in oil molecules is about 1,500% greater, pound for pound, than the maximum in lithium chemistry. Thats why (all) aircraft, cruise ships and merchant ships, and rockets are powered by hydrocarbons.

Fossil fuels, and nuclear generated electricity are known physical quantities. Their favorable thermodynamic properties are the reasons why growing, and advanced countries will continue choosing oil, petroleum, natural gas, coal, and nuclear. Human wishes and desire-fulfillment economically, and historically began when fossil fuels, and nuclear energy were incorporated into everyday life.

Nuclear energy was after the Second World War; and is the only zero-carbon energy to electrical generation source. Both working together give certainty whereas renewables pose a real threat to conventional sources of electricity.

Since 1990 the global total primary energy supply has mainly been derived from fossil fuels. The approximately 7.7 billion living at this time want and need reliable, consistent sources of energy and electricity that fossil fuels provide even more so than nuclear generated energy to electricity.

If fossil fuels power and electrify the world, then the resurgence since the mid-2000s for American exploration and production (E&P) gains has changed the world in every conceivable way related to energy and electricity. The United States is expected sometime in the near future to become a net exporter of energy. An astonishing development when you consider during the President George W. Bush administration the U.S. imported most of its oil and natural gas for domestic use.

China, India, Africa, most of Central America, the Middle East, and large parts of Central Asia are struggling with little to no electricity. How can any western-led environmentalist or environmental organization believe all the above-mentioned nations, and continents wont follow the U.S. model for fossil fuel use?

Especially China, India, and Africa whose populations are growing the fastest plan for, allow, and legislate their economies, and national security reach new heights by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), or other methods of E&P for fossil fuels? The 2019 United States Energy Information Administrations International Energy Outlook factually reveals China, India, and Africa are using more fossil fuels and nuclear generated electricity to power their energy hungry economies than previously thought possible.

If a country, or continent does not have abundant, reliable, scalable, affordable, and flexible energy and electricity then you do not have an economy, or improved living standards. This is why hydrocarbons and nuclear are the moral answers for human longevity and prosperity decades ahead.

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Fossil Fuels And Nuclear Power The World - OpEd - Eurasia Review

Your Pension May Be Gambling On Human Life, Profiting From COVID Deaths – Forbes

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Your pension may gambling on highly-controversial life settlement funds which profit when people die ... [+] prematurely from COVID.

Whether you know it or not, your pension may be gambling on highly-speculative life settlement funds which profit when people die prematurely from COVID. Life settlement funds are controversial for a host of obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. These investments in a pension ensuring the retirement security of workers is doubly problematic.

Many public and private pensions are gambling on highly speculative funds that invest in so-called longevity-contingent assets, such as life insurance policies insuring the lives of individuals who are generally at least 70 years old. The insured individual must have a life expectancy ranging from, say, not less than two years to not more than 15 years. A given fund may have exposure to hundreds of lives in the portfolio with an average insured age of over 80 years old.

The sooner the terminally ill and other elderly insured individuals die, the betteras far as your pension is concerned.

With more than 80% of COVID deaths in the United States occurring in people aged 65 and older, this should be the best of times for gambling on these controversial funds which often promise annualized returns ranging from 8-12%. (Actual net returns are likely to be less than half those promised.)

If so, would it comfort you to know your pension was profiting from the misery of others?

Do you know whether your pension invests in life settlements? Have any such investments been clearly disclosed to you? Do the people managing your pension even know?

Believe it or not, they may not.

Today many alternative investment funds provide that they may withhold disclosure of underlying investments from pensions and participants, including stinky stuff like payday loans and life settlements.

Life settlement funds are controversial for a host of obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. Gambling on these highly speculative investments in a pension ensuring the retirement security of workers is doubly problematic.

Many regulators, lawmakers and other governmental authorities, as well as many insurance companies and insurance industry organizations, oppose the selling and buying of longevity-contingent assets. The industry and some of its participants have long been in legal and regulatory hot water. Opponents of the industry argue that these life insurance transactions are contrary to public policy by promoting financial speculation on human life and all-too-often involve elements of fraud and other wrongdoing.

Ask yourself: Why would an elderly, sickly or terminally ill insured person sell his or her life insurance policy? Because he or she needs cash to cover rising medical costs and living expenses? What are the chances the sale of that individuals life insurance policy may have been coerced or induced by fraud? Its no surprise that thoughtful regulators and lawmakers would be highly concerned.

The limited regulatory oversight of these funds is another major red flag. Many funds take the position that whole life settlements do not constitute securities under the federal securities laws and do not register as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Compliance with other federal and state securities laws is also a concern. The SEC has long had difficulty reigning in industry abuses since unless securities are involved the agency generally lacks jurisdiction.

Worst of all, since the portfolio investments of these funds do not currently have a readily available market for valuation purposes, the likelihood that portfolio values, as well as investment returns may be inflated by the managers is high. This is particularly troublesome for open-ended investment funds, where new investors may be buying into a fund at an already inflated Net Asset Value (NAV). The life settlement asset class has had a troubled past with respect to inflated NAVs caused by funds underestimating life expectancies.

In other words, fund managers, are so hopeful that the old and sick insureds will die sooner rather than later, they assume the life expectancies will be shorter.

In Europe, a number of open-end funds (so-called sickened death bond funds) have gated, trapping investors. After waiting several years for the funds to liquidate, investors have recovered only pennies on the dollar.

In my opinion, additional regulatory action regarding overvaluations of the portfolios of these funds is almost certainly coming. If so, your pensionyour retirement securitymay be at risk.

In 2016, the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector Generalissued a scathing report finding that the Virgin Islands General Employees Retirement System had entered into an extremely risky and questionable life settlement investment that jeopardized about $42 million of its investment portfolio. This was done without performing the necessary due diligence and obtaining the necessary expert advice, before exposing the pension fund to this high-risk investment. As a result, GERS has already written-off 20% or $8.4 million of the remaining value. In addition, GERS also granted a $10 million line of credit to the same partnership that is handling the viatical. The majority of the proceeds were to pay past due and near term premiums for the policies.

An advisor to the pension noted, There is uncertainty on the use of viaticals as an investment by a defined benefit plan. Also, The nature of the investment in viaticals, that is an investment seeking profits off death, raises issues of social responsibility.

To be sure, in my opinion, life settlement funds are the antithesis of socially responsible investing.

Should your retirement savings be in longevity-contingent assets supporting speculation on human life which often involve elements of fraud and other wrongdoing? First find out whether your pension is invested in these funds, then let your voice be heard.

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Your Pension May Be Gambling On Human Life, Profiting From COVID Deaths - Forbes

Are very long-lived trees immortal and what can they teach humans? – ABC News

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

While humans are all too familiar with the ravages of getting older, many trees seem to handle ageing a lot better.

Certain trees can live for thousands of years and appear to be immortal.

But not everyone is convinced these old timers can escape death due to old age.

Regardless, could humans with their relatively puny lifespans have something to learn from these ancient trees? Some scientists think so.

Establishing how old the oldest living tree is depends a bit on which plants are in the running for the title.

You could argue that Australia's Wollemi pine, which has been cloning itself for more than 60 million years, deserves the title. But that's kind of cheating because this involves multiple stems growing from the one rootstock.

This is why the oldest tree in the world is generally regarded as a single-stemmed bristlecone pine called Pinus longaeva.

This species can live to around 5,000 years and does well where most other plants cannot even grow in rocky, dry, high-altitude areas in the United States.

What's amazing is that scientists have not so far been able to show that getting older directly affects the health of such millennial trees, plant biologist Sergi Munne-Bosch from the University of Barcelona says.

It's because of this, some say these trees are essentially immortal.

But in a recent article, Professor Munne-Bosch argues that it's likely even ancient trees could die from old age assuming something else doesn't kill them first.

He emphasises that there's a difference between ageing, which is about how long an organism has lived, and age-related deterioration, which is referred to as senescence.

"Just because we can't track senescence in long-lived trees doesn't mean they are immortal."

Professor Munne-Bosch points to recent research on centuries-old Ginkgo biloba trees that found no evidence of senescence.

The study was the first to look for evidence of age-related changes in cells of the cambium, a layer just beneath the bark that contains cells that can produce new tissue throughout the plant's life.

It confirmed the long-lived trees, which in this case were up to 667 years old, were just as healthy as younger ones says Professor Munne-Bosch.

"They grow very well, they produce seeds, they produce flowers, so they are healthy."

He points out that even though a 667-year-old tree seems old when compared to a human, it is relatively young for a ginkgo.

"This species can live for more than two millennia."

Professor Munne-Bosch argues that the ginkgo researchers' data shows that older trees had thinner vascular tissue and that this hints at possible age-related deterioration that would be more obvious in even older trees.

Yet despite this deterioration, he says these trees are more likely to die from insects, disease, fire, drought or loggers, than old age.

"For a species that can live for millennia, aging is not really a problem in evolutionary terms because they are much more likely to die of something else."

The problem is there are so few of these long-lived trees that it's hard to get the data to know for certain whether they can die of old age.

"We cannot prove it either way," Professor Munne-Bosch says, adding that age-related deterioration is likely to happen in these trees at such a different pace compared to in humans.

"For a Ginkgo biloba, six centuries is not as physiologically relevant as it is to us."

Brenda Casper, a professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania says it's not clear that the changes found in the older Ginkgo biloba trees were necessarily detrimental to the tree.

But she agrees the low number of millennial trees makes it hard to study their longevity.

"It's difficult to find statistical evidence for senescence."

Even if there were enough trees, she says some of the age-related deterioration may be hard to detect, or we may not know what to look for.

"It's not just internal physiology per se but it's the interaction of the tree with its environment."

For example, she says it would be hard to measure whether age had made a tree more susceptible to disease, or less structurally sound so it's more likely to fall over in a windstorm.

Even if the jury is out on whether millennial trees are immortal, some experts say their longevity could be inspirational for medical research.

Professor Munne-Bosch says such trees can draw on a bag of tricks to help them "postpone death".

First is having a simple body plan with modular-like branches and roots. This means they can compartmentalise any damaged or dead roots or branches and work around them.

"They can lose part of leaves or roots and continue to be healthy..

And he says although 95 per cent of the trunk of a tree might be dead, the living cambium just beneath the bark is "one of the secrets of longevity" in trees.

Millennial trees have used the combination of these features to their best advantage and Professor Munne-Bosch says these tricks are providing a model for scientists researching the negative effects of ageing.

"Imagine if we could regenerate our lungs or circulatory system every year, we would be much healthier than we are."

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Professor of biomedical engineering at the University of New South Wales, Melissa Knothe Tate is one researcher who is inspired by millennial trees.

"They have units and if one unit breaks you can replace it with another unit."

Only a small percentage of an individual long-lived tree may be alive, but she argues it's all about survival of the cells that are able to regenerate the tree.

"Those that survive best, survive longest."

"Millennial trees are the best survivors because they've seen a lot."

While a tree and a human might seem worlds apart, Professor Knothe Tate sees the similarities, pointing to the role of stem cells in maintaining bones in humans.

She says cells add new layers to bone, like tree rings, to increase girth and when bone is injured, stem cells quickly help repair it.

"We're constantly renewing our bones and trees do something similar."

Professor Knothe Tate says she is using stem cells and new biomaterials that emulate tree cambium, to create replacement tissue in the lab, and has several patents for the work.

"I think about plants a lot when I'm up in the mountains and amongst the trees."

Professor Knothe Tate, who draws on her training in philosophy, biology and mechanical engineering for her work, sees other similarities that can inspire research.

For example, she likens the human brain to the network of roots and branches that helps a tree remain resilient if one part is damaged, another part can sometimes take up the slack.

"As parts of the brain are injured or die, it's remarkable what functionality we can retain,

"If we knew which of the brain's networks were essential for certain functions, we may be able to grow them."

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Professor Knothe Tate also set up a science education project for girls that explores the parallels between the biomechanics of trees and bones. It was inspired by her observation of how huge trees sway like a blade of grass in the wind.

She has high hopes for the potential of regenerative medicine research that draws on knowledge from other disciplines like plant biology.

"Then we can then start to think about making ourselves immortal."

Plant biologist Professor Munne-Bosch is also enthusiastic.

"The future of medicine is very similar to what has evolved in millennial trees."

But while regenerating tissues will help humans live much longer, he doubts we will ever be immortal.

"It won't be forever, because we are more likely to die of something else, whether it be an accident or a pandemic."

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