Category Archives: Human Longevity

Fredun E De Vitre pays tribute to Mumbai's Vasant Raiji, who was the oldest surviving first-class cricketer until he passed away on Saturday aged 100

Vasant Raiji, who passed away at age 100, is remembered by most people for being the oldest surviving first-class cricketer. But there was far more to the man than merely his remarkable longevity. He was a cricketer, a cricket-crazy fan of the game, its historian, a cricketing author of repute, meticulous in research, with an easy, simple style, which somehow communicated to the reader his unbridled passion for the sport.

He loved to record the deeds of lesser-known cricketers like Baloo Palwankar and one of his favourites, LP Jai (who, in his day, is reputed to have been in the Victor Trumper mould as an elegant, free-stroking batsman). He wrote on hitherto little-researched subjects like the Parsee teams visits to England in 1886 and 1888. Raijis classic book, Indias Hambledon Men, published in 1986, revealed to a large readership charming nuggets relating to those tours and set the tone for future histories of the development of the game in India.

The Raiji I would like to remember is the gentleman who held forth sitting at the Cricket Club of India for many years, always soft-spoken but with an obvious passion about the game in his voice that was infectious and started many an interesting conversation, particularly about players and events of the old days. He believed that Indias first Test captain, CK Nayudu, was the greatest cricketer he had seen, though he acknowledged the sterling abilities of the modern greats as well and was never dismissive of their genius, as some others of his vintage were wont to do. He was knowledgeable and discerning and not willing to praise any and every cricketer who may have had a brief moment in the sun. He held strong views on various aspects of the game, but invariably expressed them in a very persuasive, non-hurtful way.

I met him for my book Willow Tales, which focusses on the lighter side of Indian cricket and in the process, I discovered Raijis wry sense of humour. He added four hilarious anecdotes to my collection.

He told of the time at the start of the 1940-41 Ranji season, when the Bombay selection committee was meeting to select the squad. The name of CH Chandrana came up. Vijay Merchant, the captain, was not enthused. Hes 51-years old, he said. How can he possibly be selected? Pat came the reply from LP Jai: Gentlemen, are we match-making or selecting a cricket team?

Raiji also narrated the story of Jimmy Lawyer, who played for the Parsees in the Pentangular. One day, an Englishman in army uniform walked up to the nets at the Brabourne Stadium, and politely asked if he could bowl a few balls. Wanting to humour the Englishman, Lawyer agreed. Much to his consternation, he was beaten ball after ball, he couldnt read the spin at all. At the end, he told the Englishman, Well bowled, young man, you bowl quite well. Thank you, was the reply, Im Hedley Verity. Lawyers jaw dropped. This was the man who dismissed the great Donald Bradman 8 times in 16 Tests!

Raiji spoke with pride about his exchange of letters with the greatest batsman of all time, Bradman, and often wondered, with great modesty and a childlike delight, why the great man had deigned to consider him worthy of being the recipient of more than a handful of letters on cricketing matters.

He was one of the two persons I knew personally who had watched the first-ever Test Match on Indian soil, at the Bombay Gymkhana in December 1933, the other being Dady Patel, the formidable lawyer who strode the corridors of the rent courts in Mumbai like a colossus.

His family firm of Chartered Accountants, NM Raiji & Co took up a great deal of his time too. I believe that Raijis lasting legacy to the game will be his books. His penmanship had few flourishes and no memorably great turn of phrase; he used simple, direct language and he researched long and deep, with an enviable eye for detail. He drew a great deal on the books he had personally collected to make his cricket library and his love for cricket literature no doubt was an asset in bringing his characters alive for readers, particularly to a much younger audience, with books on Ranji, Duleep, LP Jai, CK Nayudu and a host of others.

Although it is now several decades past, I well remember how much I enjoyed reading his book on LP Jai, a cricketer about whom I knew very little until Raiji gave him his deserved place at the top of the hierarchy of Mumbai crickets stylists at the batting crease. Indias Hambledon Men also remains a personal favourite, not just as a reference book but also to be read for the sheer pleasure of revelling in just how adventurous and far-sighted the men from my great community, the Parsees, were way back in the 1880s.

It is an irony of life that an opening batsman who never reached a century on the field of play (his highest score was 68) in fact ended up reaching that great landmark on the field of life. Vasant Raiji RIP.

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He loved to record the deeds - Mumbai Mirror

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Table of Contents

Global Precision Medicine Software Market Research Report 2020 2026

Chapter 1 Precision Medicine Software Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

Chapter 12 Global Precision Medicine Software Market Forecast

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Precision Medicine Software Market Breaking New Grounds and Touch new Level in Upcoming Year by Syapse, Allscripts, Qiagen, Roper Technologies, Fabric...

Deborah (DC) Cutrer knew she wanted to become a teacher from a young age, when she met her third grade teacher, Mrs. Tina Coleman.

She was the only black woman I had ever seen in a position of responsibility and respect, DC said. Seeing her and realizing the importance and the significance for children of color to see someone of color in positions that represent respectful, authoritative, compassionate, inspiring opportunities for them to pursue. I never changed my mind, since third grade. Tina Coleman, that was going to be me.

DC would go on to a teaching career that spanned 35 years, beginning in Tucson, Ariz. where she grew up, and ending this spring when she retired from the Marthas Vineyard Public Charter School, where she has taught middle school and high school math for 18 years.

DC said one of the most rewarding aspects of her job has been the ability to bond with her students and watch them grow.

Thats the advantage of being at the charter school, she said. You get to watch some of these kids walk into the building as kindergarteners then walk across the stage as graduates.

DC began her career in the Flowing Wells school district in Arizona where she said the teachers were encouraged to pursue professional development, helping her to master the techniques of crafting solid lesson plans.

Coming to the charter school I brought all those skills with me, but what the charter school gave me was the realization that education needs to do more than dispense knowledge. Its got to also dispense compassion and understanding. Its got to dispense activists into the community. Its got to dispense explorers and travelers and its not all about math. All those other things, math, science, English, social studies, they all come in, but the bigger picture at the charter school is to create well rounded human beings.

As an example, DC mentioned Graysen Kirk, who attended the charter school from kindergarten through eighth grade and recently organized the rally against police brutality and racial injustice at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven.

That passion and the freedom to think for yourself and to be an activist or to be a pacifist or to be whatever it is you feel it is you need to be in this world, the charter school gives license to kids to do that, she said. We dont chop kids, we dont take off their edges and put them into a hole that we think best suits them. There are no cookie cutters at the charter school. The charter school is a free-form cookie, we just mold every little cookie with our hands.

DC said her fellow teachers have also made a lasting impact on her.

The teachers I teach with here are amazing human beings and brilliant educators and are driven by salaries that are less than most, a time expectation that is greater than many. But the longevity in the building is represented

by the dedication of the teachers and

the families that bring their children to this school.

And while DC said it is the right time for her to retire it wasnt an easy decision.

Walking away is part of the journey. Walking away is a part of the whole process. Youve got to know when its time. Its not always about you, nature abhors a vacuum. With my leaving I know the young woman who they have hired is going to come in here and do a job that will surpass mine and thats all I would ever want to see after leaving a position.

DC has no concrete plans for what she will do next, other than spending more time with her grandson. Another grandchild is due to arrive in September.

This is not an easy place to walk away from, she said. Im glad that I know that the door is always open to me.

Excerpt from:
Judging Success by Molding Hearts, Minds and Character - The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 12: The St. Louis Blues celebrate after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Seven to win the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

When the St. Louis Blues hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history on June 12, 2019, they erased over 50 years of painful memories in one fell swoop. While few expected them to win it, they were actually the perfect team to win it for St. Louis.

When you consider the teams history, they dont have the longevity of teams like Chicago or Boston or Montreal. However, they have had their fair share of big names and good teams.

The Blues were not part of the Original Six, so they were not loaded with Hall of Fame talent like a Bobby Hull or Gordie Howe for years on end. Nevertheless, they had some great names.

While some were at the ends of their careers like Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante, there were plenty of up and comers like Garry Unger (who joined the team at 23), Curtis Joseph or Doug Gilmour.

It is true that most people only think of Brett Hull when they think of the Blues. If youve lived in St. Louis, obviously Bernie Federko gets thrown into that discussion as the best to wear the Note.

Nevertheless, the Blues have had tons of great names come through, whether for a cup of coffee or for long stretches. Theyve had Wayne Gretzky, Brendan Shanahan, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis, Adam Oates, Pierre Turgeon, Red Berenson, Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Grant Fuhr and more.

All those great names, many in the Hall of Fame, and none could bring the Blues to the promised land. Some were great goal scorers and put up unbelievable point totals, but the team as a whole was always missing something.

While we will always remember the 2019 team, there an argument to be made that other squads had more talent in past years.

In 1999-00, the Blues won the Presidents Trophy for the best record in the league. That team lacked scoring depth and had a goaltender that was amazing in the regular season and cost them everything in the playoffs.

In 1995-96, weve documented the pain that season caused. The team was actually under .500 that season, but you figured adding the leagues biggest name was going to bring great things that season or the next. Unfortunately, Mike Keenan happened.

The Blues had two 100-plus point scorers in 1990-91, a future Hall of Fame defender that won three Stanley Cups in New Jersey and decent goaltending. Fate had other plans as the Blues lost in the second round to the eventual finalist Minnesota North Stars.

The Blues built off their Presidents Trophy team and went to the conference final in 2001. They ran into a buzzsaw in eventual champions, the Colorado Avalanche.

St. Louis had a fantastic run in 2015-16. Early failings in putting teams away left them with no gas to beat San Jose.

So how did the Blues win it in 2019? They had zero 80-point scorers.

The last time that happened was in 2013-14. Not coincidentally, the L.A. Kings played a very heavy style, just like the Blues in 2019.

If you strip everything away though, the Blues won because they played as a team. The championship team had very good players, but nobody that was looked at to lead anytime anything went wrong.

Nobody would doubt that Vladimir Tarasenko was that teams best goal scorer. The Blues finally stopped asking him to be the only one to put the puck in the net every night.

Nobody was looking to a Scott Stevens-like defender to do all the heavy lifting. Colton Parayko and Jay Bouwmeester shut people down as a pairing.

The Blues would usually pair a more offensive defenseman with someone who took care of the other side more. That mixture gave everyone just the right responsibility and freedom, which often gives them the confidence to thrive in all three zones.

Add into the mix that Jordan Binnington played out of his mind that playoff run. His stats dont reflect it because he had several games when he was human, but he was superhuman more often than not and the NHL is the one sport when one hot player as a goaltender can win the whole thing.

Even then, the Blues did not rely completely on Binnington and nothing else. There was always someone that came up big.

If the top six had a slow start, the bottom six played with energy and either chipped in with a goal or stifled the opponent until the big guns got their legs. If the defense had a hiccup, Binnington picked them up.

When Binnington was slightly off, the offense either came up with a big goal or the defense blocked shots. And the Blues just hit, hit, hit. From a numbers point of view, they might not have had a record number of checks, but they punished every single opponent and wore them out.

It all boils down to the entire team pitching in. They were not looking to a Hull to lead the way or a Gretzky to save the day. The guys that played one or two games had as big a role in those one or two games as the guys that played all 26.

St. Louis legitimately rolled four lines that could score, hit, pester and provide energy. While you had your shutdown duo, the Blues felt no trepidation by any defensive pair going out there against the other teams best lines.

That is something rare, but something you often see in todays games winners. Stanley Cup champions are deep teams that just have that extra will and get a few bounces.

That cant be overlooked either. So many years in the past, there was that bounce that went against the Blues and it took the wind out of their sails completely.

The team that finally won it for St. Louis got a few bounces that never went their way in the past remember Ben Bishop almost losing his head off Paraykos shot? or they managed to not let any bad bounce take them out of it. *Coughhandpasscough*

In the end, by however you want to measure it, the Blues earned it in 2019 instead of just wanting it. There were better players in the Blues sweater in years past and there might have been better teams.

None could get it done. The guys finally did one year ago and now theyll be legends in the Gateway City forever.

See the article here:
Why 2018-19 St. Louis Blues Were The Perfect Team To End Drought - Bleedin' Blue

Bioscience tech company Brightseed has partnered with Danone North America to use artificial intelligence (AI) to better understand the health benefits of popular plant-based products.

Danone North America, the worlds largest certified B-corporation, produces brands including Dannon and Danimals yogurt, Silk alternative milks, and Horizon Organic dairy. The first stage of the partnership with Danone will focus on soy, according to a statement from Brightseed.

Brightseed uses AI to tie phytonutrients in plants to specific health outcomes. With Danone, they will identify unknown compounds in soy and predict previously undiscovered health benefits in the plant. Then, they will validate their findings through clinical testing.

What were doing with Danone is illuminating the crops that make up the core of their supply chain, Brightseed co-founder and COO Sofia Elizondo tells Food Tank. If we dont know that these valuable nutritious elements are in these plant sources to begin with, then its really hard to ensure that theyre presentnot only in the raw material, but in the end product as well.

The problem Brightseed is addressing is that an overwhelming majority of these plant compounds, and their specific links to human health outcomes, remain undiscovered. Due both to the limits of modern microscope technology and the sheer volume of plant phytonutrients to sift through, Elizondo says, illuminating this dark matter of nutrition has been slow and often impossible. Brightseed is building a fast lane of sorts, using AI technology to leapfrog the need for a physical search, she tells Food Tank.

Without that knowledge, we end up processing these nutrients out, Elizondo tells Food Tank. Were missing out on what nature has already provided. We intuitively know that eating plant-based food is healthy, but we can use technology to clarify whyand to make sure that were getting enough of it to make a difference. Its marrying our intuitive wisdom with the best and the most cutting-edge benefits that technology can bring.

In response to concerns that this data may encourage food companies to prioritize additives over whole ingredients, Elizondo reiterated that Brightseed is identifying and valorizing nutrients that already exist in food. The food and health paradigm, she says, should focus not on free from certain items but on chock full of good stuff.

Take blueberries, for example, she says. If we know what helpful antioxidants are naturally in blueberries, manufacturers can make sure theyre present not only in fresh blueberries but also in frozen blueberries, dried blueberries, blueberry yogurt, blueberry granola, and blueberry extract-based supplements.

Lets find what is in food that we need to put back in, and lets put it back in everything, Elizondo tells Food Tank. In the fresh crop products; in the more processed packaged products; in the extracts, if thats the way that fits with your lifestyle. Were laser-focused on health outcomesmoving the needle on health and longevity in a very fundamental way. Thats the North Star.

For Brightseed, the most effective strategy for creating a healthier food marketplace is through partnerships with larger companies, like Danone. They could have created their own line of products based on their AI discoveries, Elizondo says, but we would be limited to the impact that only Brightseed could have and the consumers that Brightseed could reach. Instead, they hope food manufacturers can use Brightseeds technology to promote and produce healthier products.

Humanity is very comfortable with using technology to manipulate, Elizondo tells Food Tank. We dont need to manipulate nature to solve our problems. I think we can use technology to deeply understand [nature] and use its wisdom for maintaining our health.

Photo courtesy Brightseed

Go here to read the rest:
Using AI, Brightseed and Danone Will Discover New Health Benefits of Plant-Based Foods - Food Tank

The worlds cleanest air, free from particles, more specifically, aerosols, caused by human activity was found over the Southern Ocean close to both Antarctica and Australia according to a study published this past week titled, Airborne bacteria confirm the pristine nature of the Southern Ocean boundary layer.

In an ever-evolving world, it is certainly difficult to find parts of the world that are untouched by human impact. This was the first study to measure the bio aerosol composition of the Southern Ocean, where the lower clouds over the Southern Ocean were found to be free of human activity and air pollution.

Co-author of the study, Thomas Hill stated, The Southern Ocean is one of very few places on Earth that has been minimally affected by anthropogenic activities.

Researchers thought that they might find traces of human DNA and bacteria. In fact, the only bacteria found in the region was linked to marine bacteria from the sea spray. The research findings are important to the science field as it disproves other studies that state that oceans in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the subtropics have microbes that drift in from upwind continents. The study revealed that aerosols were not travelling south and into the air as previously stated.

Air pollution is considered to be a global health crisis and claims seven-million lives each year, this according to reports released from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Burning fossil fuels does not only pose a threat to human longevity and quality of life but also has a detrimental effect on the environment which in turn, leads to warmer weather and climate change.

With more than 80% of people living in urban areas exceeding the WHO health guidelines an effort to reduce air pollution needs to be a priority.

This content has been created as part of our freelancer relief programme. We are supporting journalists and freelance writers impacted by the economic slowdown caused by #lockdownlife.

If you are a freelancer looking to contribute to The South African,read more here.

Continued here:
Researchers find the worlds cleanest air at the tip of the planet - The South African

Researchers considered that question specifically for new technology foods, like GMOs, where there is a great deal of public opposition. They made use of Amazons Mechanical Turk, the Internet version of college students taking an introduction to psychology. The participants answered questions regarding food crops that were new and old, and were the result of traditional breeding or new technologies, like genetic modification or irradiation. The participants were asked whether they would be willing to consume the product, where it was safe for them or society, and whether it was moral to grow it at all. [1] Here is what they found over a series of studies.

Thesestudies were conducted on US citizens, so while it may well be generalizable to other first-world, Western countries, it may not apply as well to developing countries where adequate nutrition is an over-riding life-changing issue.

People prefer food that has stood the test of time, a heuristic rule that is captured in Talebs Lindy Rule, where old ideas and objects are more resilient to the buffeting winds of change. While some opponents of GMOs argue that they are not safe despite significant testing and can produce examples to prove their point, it is also clear that this cognitive bias, what the researchers termed recency negativity, is also at play. The more widespread acceptance of GMOs or other genetically modified crops may well require the passage of time more than any logical argument.

[1] For example, SP6321 is a domesticated sweet potato (it does not grow wild in nature). Humans changed the DNA of SP 6321 ancestors by selectively breeding only the largest and most drought-resistant sweet potato plants over multiple generations. That DNA is in SP 6321 today and it makes SP 6321 larger and more drought-resistant than many types of wild sweet potatoes. Farmers are just now beginning to grow SP 6321 for human consumption.

[2] While both techniques involve human action, irradiation is an older, lesser-known technology, whereas gene modification has had quite a bit of media and controversy.

Source: Recency Negativity: Newer food crops are evaluated less favorably Appetite DOI: 101.1016/j.appet.2020.104754

Here is the original post:
Is There Bias in How We Judge GMOs? - American Council on Science and Health

Pandemic trends show that despite some restrictions many countries are experiencing, were still finding many ways to move. According to Garmin trends data, yes. Most of the worlds daily step count has decreased significantly. However, this is not the whole picture, since many people have developed new routines with different types of exercises to stay active. So just because were experiencing a pandemic, it doesnt mean were sitting on our behind all day.

There has been a massive shift in the way people are moving across the globe. An earlier report by Garmin saw remarkable changes in the types of sports and exercises people were choosing to do. Moreover, Garmin states that simply looking at the step count wont tell a complete story. We know that this number is down in every country, but it doesnt necessarily mean people are exercising less. Think about it. There could be a lady who lives in a tiny flat in Italy, who hasnt been able to walk much at all. But we dont know what shes doing in her flat to keep active. For all we know, she could be cycling indoors for 20km a day. Thats why Garmin has taken this into consideration in their new pandemic trend report. In fact, it could even mean that many people are moving more.

We need to get an accurate picture of how people are moving around the world. Fortunately, Garmins wearable devices can tell us how people are moving, and not just if theyre moving. We do know that the total worldwide steps decreased by 12% in April 2020. However, steps from just workout activities increased by 24%. This means that more people are exercising but in different ways. This makes up for the suppression of normal daily movement during the pandemic.

Its crazy to think that years from today, were going to look back at this pandemic and remember April as the month COVID-19 hit us. Coronavirus extended its debilitating reach to nearly every country, culture, and community on Earth. Theres no denying the fact that the pandemic has impacted our daily lives phenomenally. Besides that, we thought it would be interesting to report back on the effects its having on human activity.

According to the Garmin report, we see a clear reflection of the pandemics crippling global power. Especially when you compare April 2020 to April last year. Aggregated data from millions of Garmin users shows a worldwide decrease of 12% in average daily steps.

Note that Garmin applied a fixed data scale to every country in the world. For this reason, results are magnified for countries with lower population counts and stricter stay-at-home orders. For example, the U.S. compared to Uzbekistan. While Uzbekistan is nowhere near the U.S. in the number of coronavirus cases. It has a bigger percentage decrease because there are fewer people and stricter lockdown rules.

Although the data shows were not walking as much as before, we are moving quite a bit. People are keeping fit during this pandemic, by completing home workouts and other forms of activity to compensate. We cant deny the fact that its certainly become a lot more interesting when it comes to exercise. People are demonstrating a lot of creativity.

We can see that theres a clear reduction in general movement, but when we take a deeper look at the data. Things get a bit more enticing. Garmin reports that a portion of these total worldwide steps come from uploaded activities like running, cycling and hiking. With 20 built-in activity apps on Garmin devices, they were able to accurately detect this data.

This means that if we look at just the steps coming from these logged activities. We can find the opposite trend.On average, steps from logged activities were up 24% worldwide. To sum up, people have started to engage in unique exercise activities to make-up for lost steps in their everyday routines. Not bad for being locked in your home due to a pandemic.

Whether its true, pandemic or not, come hell-high-water, people are getting their exercise in.

The question remains, what is everybody doing to stay fit during the pandemic?

Based on the data, its clear that Garmin users are turning to activities that are most viable depending on their geographic location. Some of these activities are highlighted in our previous post on pandemic trends inthe U.S. and Europe. However, this new data gives us a complete global picture.

The picture below shows activities that saw the largest increase in each country. This is when we compare April 2020 to April 2019.

From what we can see, it seems that most countries have taken to indoor cycling. Apparently, Australians and Canadians both seem to agree that walking is the best activity during life in quarantine. But China, Mexico, South Africa and a handful of other countries have all turned to fitness equipment workouts. But what kind of fitness equipment workouts? Garmin says that indoor cardio accounts for 50% of these workouts. Last year duringDuring the same time period, over 50% of the activities in this category were strength training. Thats very interesting, the pandemic has definitely forced people to make adjustments to their usual routine.

Remember when everybody was raving about strength training? Well, now we have to adapt and look into doing some more cardio too. Moreover, this shift indicates that weve made a shift from gym-structured workouts to home-based find-a-way workouts. Although its evident that a vast majority of people cycle indoors, Garmin took it a step further. They decided to consult a couple of Garmin pro athletes to collect some qualitative context. Interestingly, they said that certain areas like France are not able to cycle outside. says U.S. triathlete Taylor

As a result of the pandemic, many who never did indoor cycling are now doing it five times per week.

The triathlete also said that many athletes are spending more time on platforms like Zwift. He said that their training group meets once every 2 weeks to do a session together. Its a great way to keep yourself motivated to keep moving when having regular virtual sessions. Moreover, its a wonderful way to remain in contact even if it is only once a week. This is particularly important if youre used to meeting regularly with your training group of workout buddies at the gym.

Whilst the pandemic has pushed humanity toward some activities, it has decisively turned it away from others. In a previous article that focused on European trends, it noted that swimming had all but disappeared. As we compare April 2020 to April 2019, this looks to be a global trend too. The data shows significant decreases in swimming activity from the Americas to the Far East.

However, this doesnt mean that swimmers are just sitting all day. The data shows that in Australia 54% of the users who swam in April 2019 are instead running outdoors in April 2020. Then in China, 43% of the users swamin April of last year they were either running or cycling outside this year. In the U.S., pro triathletes are keeping up their fitness by working hard at home. Since most public pools are closed, theyre doing more gym-based strength workouts. If youre a swimmer, then you can even try to replicate some movements and muscle patterns of swimming.

When it comes to multisport training, hiking and golf theres been a massive decrease in multiple countries. But like swimmers, these guys are looking for alternatives. For example, in South Africa, 20% of the users who were golfing in April 2019 turned to indoor fitness workouts in April 2020. And then another 11% began indoor cycling.

The consensus seems to be that people are using this time to their advantage. Particularly if youre an athlete, wed imagine youre using this pandemic to prepare your body for when sports return. Its important to try to maintain your usual activity levels even if it means trying something new.

In conclusion, its obvious that we are finding a way to move no matter what. From the mainstream to a professional athlete, people are adapting routines but clearly not stopping them. If youre a runner but used to enjoy running with your teammates, then try listening to some podcasts or audiobooks while you run. Theres always a way to work around this pandemic.

Hold tight guys, team sports will return eventually. But for now, finding other ways to move on your own is your best bet. Fitness is just one of millions of routine adjustments being made around the world.

Snacking all day, making constant trips to the fridge? Yeah, we totally get where youre coming from.

The Impact of the Global Pandemic on Human Activity: Part III. Garmin. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitness/the-impact-of-the-global-pandemic-on-human-activity-part-iii/

The Global Pandemic and Active Lifestyles: Part II. Garmin. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/general/the-global-pandemic-and-active-lifestyles-part-ii/

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pandemic-restrictions-arent-stopping-us-heres-what you need to know - Longevity LIVE

The NFL Draft has become a spectacle that had, until uncommon circumstances this year, drawn hundreds of thousands of fans to cities across the United States of America in recent years. CBS Sports decided to pay homage to the process by coming up with the all-time NFL Draft class (i.e., the best player taken with each selection) post-NFL merger in 1970.

Carve out some time in your afternoon to digest this lengthy read. Without any further ado, let's get started. All stats listed are per Pro-Football-Reference.

Drafted team: Colts

If Manning's career did not run parallel to arguably the most dominant dynasty in football history, he likely would have had a few more Super Bowl victories to his name. With a few more Super Bowls, his argument as the best quarterback of all time would grow stronger.

Drafted team: Giants

Linebacker was viewed as a luxury position when the Giants selected Taylor. It worked out superbly as he compiled 10 Pro Bowl appearances and eight first-team All-Pro selections throughout his career. The former Tar Heel tallied 132.5 sacks over the course of his career.

Drafted team: Lions

It was incredibly difficult to choose Sanders over Anthony Munoz, but it had to be done. Not all heroes wear capes. Despite a shortened career, Sanders was named to 10 Pro Bowls. He compiled 15,269 rushing yards and 99 rushing touchdowns as well as 352 receptions, 2,921 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns

Drafted team: Bears

Guard John Hannah and linebacker Derrick Thomas would be worthwhile considerations here as well. Payton is one of the most recognized NFL athletes in history. He accumulated nearly 17,000 rushing yards as well as nine Pro Bowl selections throughout his career.

Drafted team: Falcons

It was essentially a coin toss between LaDainian Tomlinson and Sanders. It is more complicated attempting to quantify Sanders' illustrious career. In addition to his time served as a professional baseball player, the former Seminole recorded 53 interceptions and appeared in eight Pro Bowls.

Drafted team: Seahawks

Jones is regarded as one of the most dominant offensive tackles to play the game. His size was imposing. He started every game in which he played. His success correlated with nine Pro Bowl appearances as well as recognition on the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Drafted team: Vikings

Champ Bailey is another worthwhile candidate here but Peterson has done almost as much in a smaller sample size. He has four first-team All-Pro selections as well as seven Pro Bowl appearances. Still active, Peterson has accumulated over 14,000 rushing yards during a time that has become known for its progressive passing attacks.

Drafted team: 49ers

Lott dominated the game physically from 1981-94. He appeared in 10 Pro Bowls and was honored as a first-team All-Pro on six different occasions. The California native was a member of four Super Bowl champions and has since walked into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Oilers

Matthews played the game at a high level for 19 seasons, so he gets the nod over the likes of Brian Urlacher and Dick Butkus. Over the course of his career, the lineman appeared in 14 Pro Bowls, which is tied for the most by any player, and was a first-team All-Pro seven times.

Drafted team: Steelers

Woodson was an imposing figure on that vaunted Steelers defense. He accumulated 71 interceptions and 13.5 sacks over the course of his career. The NFL welcomed him to 11 Pro Bowls in addition to being named a first-team All-Pro six times. He has since been inducted into the Pro Bowl Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Cowboys

Paul Warfield is probably the most valuable player to be selected at No. 11 overall, but pre-merger rules exclude him from consideration. Ben Roethlisberger could have been considered, as he plays the most valuable position and has been playing longer than Irvin. The verbose pass catcher has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Buccaneers

Sapp was a gap-seeking missile throughout his career. He tallied 96.5 sacks en route to seven Pro Bowl appearances and four first-team All-Pro honors. He is recognized as one of the most difficult defenders to block and was quickly inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Steelers

Harris was a vicious runner, similar to Jim Brown. He compiled over 12,000 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns. He narrowly beat out Tony Gonzalez at this spot, but Gonzalez played much longer. Harris was a member of four Super Bowl championship teams and has since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Bills

Kelly was a rifleman in his day. He threw for over 35,000 yards and made five Pro Bowl appearances in his career. The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened their doors for Kelly in 2002 after leading the acclaimed K-Gun offense.

Drafted team: Chiefs

Johnson was one of the most consistent, productive players throughout his career. He was named a first-team All-Pro once in his career and was also named to the Pro Bowl on four separate occasions. Johnson continued playing until finally announcing his retirement following the 2018 season.

Drafted team: 49ers

There is no room for discussion here. Rice has a strong claim as the NFL's best wide receiver of all-time. He is considered one of the greatest players to ever wear an NFL jersey. Over the course of his career, he amassed 1,549 receptions for 22,895 and 197 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Pro 10 times and was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times.

Drafted team: Cowboys

Smith is the league's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards. He played during a period that was hotly contested but his longevity superseded the rest. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a four-time first-team All-Pro selection on three Super Bowl champion teams.

Drafted team: Redskins

Monk is the only Hall of Fame player to be taken No. 18 overall in the post-merger era. Honestly, Joe Flacco was probably the closest player to taking this spot from Monk. No. 18 is a surprisingly unimpressive pick all-time. Monk made three Pro Bowl appearances and caught nearly 13,000 yards worth of passes.

Drafted team: Colts

A little run for Syracuse receivers here. Harrison was Peyton Manning's favorite wide receiver in Indianapolis. The two linked up early and often. Harrison caught nearly 15,000 yards as well as 128 touchdowns. He appeared in eight Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times before being honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Rams

Youngblood barely fit the criteria because he was drafted in 1971. The edge rusher made seven Pro Bowl appearances and was named first-team All-Pro five times. Youngblood, as well as Steve Atwater who was also considered at this pick, has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Vikings

Where would NFL history be without "straight cash, homie?" Moss was known for his on-field antics as much as his posterizing catches down the sideline. He surpassed 15,000 career receiving yards en route to six Pro Bowl appearances and four first-team All-Pro honors. He would go on to play for the Raiders and the Patriots.

Drafted team: Browns

Dixon is one of the men credited for instituting the "Dawg Pound" moniker that has become synonymous with Browns football. A talented player in his own right, Dixon made three Pro Bowl appearances and was named first-team All-Pro twice during nine seasons of play.

Drafted team: Patriots

Law was one of the first defensive weapons for Bill Belichick in New England. The established coach trusted Law and used him in a variety of ways. The three-time Super Bowl champion flew all over the field as he introduced himself to a national audience. Law, who has since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was named to five Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro twice.

Drafted team: Ravens

Aaron Rodgers could make a convincing argument to be in this position now, and he has a great chance to take over by the time he retires. It is painful to consider leaving Reed off this list. He was such a fun player in the way that he covered the secondary. The free safety was fluid and dared opposing quarterbacks to throw in his direction. He made nine Pro Bowl appearances, which is one more than Rodgers as of now.

Drafted team: 49ers

Washington was a mountain of a human being. He was a true nose tackle in every description of the position. He demanded a double team, which would create more opportunities for his teammates. Washington made four Pro Bowl appearances and was named a first-team All-Pro once.

Drafted team: Ravens

Lewis went to Miami. He may have mentioned that once or twice in interviews. Baltimore had a truly terrifying defense with Lewis and Reed. The former made 13 Pro Bowl appearances and seven first-team All-Pro teams during his illustrious career. His introduction dance is still one of the most imitated in sports.

Drafted team: Dolphins

Marino is not talked about in the same manner as Joe Montana or Tom Brady because he never won a Super Bowl, but the nine-time Pro Bowl selection remains one of the most accurate quarterbacks in league history. He threw for over 61,000 yards and 420 touchdowns.

Drafted team: Buccaneers

Brooks had a lengthy career in the heart of Tampa Bay's defense. He served as the weak-side linebacker when the Buccaneers were making the Tampa 2 popular again. Brooks made 11 Pro Bowl appearances and was named a first-team All-Pro five times. He has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Cowboys

Wisniewski made eight Pro Bowl appearances over the course of 13 NFL seasons. He started every game in which he played. He was also named a first-team All-Pro twice. The Wiz was immediately traded from Dallas to the Raiders.

Drafted team: Colts

The third piece to Indianapolis' passing attack joins the party. Manning and Harrison opened the door for Wayne, who would have his own productive career. He appearances in six Pro Bowls and recorded over 14,000 receiving yards. He was named a first-team All-Pro once in his career.

Drafted team: Steelers

Heyward's career is ongoing but he should become the most productive player to be picked at No. 31 overall. Travis Frederick could have surpassed him if he had continued his career, which was unfortunately cut short. Heyward has made three Pro Bowl appearances and was twice named first-team All-Pro since being drafted in 2011.

Drafted team: Chargers

Brees' career began in San Diego, but he flourished with New Orleans. The veteran quarterback should eclipse 80,000 passing yards this season as he see-saws back and forth with Tom Brady. Brees has never won the league's MVP award and has been named a first-team All-Pro just once thanks in part to the timing of his career. He has, however, made 13 Pro Bowl appearances.

Drafted team: Falcons

Green Bay has been able to get three decades of good quarterback play out of Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Favre was named to 11 Pro Bowls over the course of his career and led the Packers to one Super Bowl victory. He has since walked into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Steelers

Ham is one of the least discussed but most impactful linebackers in NFL history. From 1971-82, he made eight Pro Bowl appearances and was named first-team All-Pro six times. The Pro Football Hall of Fame recognized his transcendent play.

Drafted team: Bears

The No. 35 overall selection is one of the weaker competition in the first two rounds. Tillman was a great player but will likely never be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His stiffest challenger at No. 35 was Andy Dalton. Tillman, made two Pro Bowl appearances and was named a first-team All-Pro, was so known for creating fumbles that his move earned the name "Peanut Punch," a reference to his nickname.

Drafted team: Giants

Barber had ample opportunities to make an impact for the Giants. He accumulated 10,449 rushing yards as well as 5,183 receiving yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl on three instances. Kevin Mawae is honorable mention here as well.

Drafted team: Eagles

In addition to nearly 30,000 passing yards, Cunningham also piled up nearly 5,000 rushing yards. He was a dangerous quarterback with a big frame. Cunningham was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and was named a first-team All-Pro once. He has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Drafted team: Bears

Singletary was a nasty player for 12 seasons before bringing his Pro Football Hall of Fame career to a halt. He made 10 Pro Bowl appearances and was named first-team All-Pro seven times. He was a member of the beloved 1985 Bears defense.

Drafted team: 49ers

Most names are likely recognizable to the average fan, but this is probably not one of them. Turner played 11 seasons but had one Pro Bowl selection to his name. When removing the pre-merger players from the candidate pool, the No. 39 overall selection was short on viable talents.

Drafted team: Giants

Thurman Thomas was nearly the choice here, but it is impossible to overlook Strahan's credentials. He made seven Pro Bowl appearances and was named a first-team All-Pro four times. The Texas native led New York to one Super Bowl victory during his decorated career.

Drafted team: Jets

Gastineau played 10 seasons during which he made five Pro Bowl appearances. He was named a first-team All-Pro three times and accumulated 74 sacks over the course of his career. Andre Tippett and Ken Norton Jr. are a few other players that would have been considered here.

Drafted team: Patriots

Aaron Hernandez and Gronkowski formed one of the most devastating tight end duos in league history. Gronk played nine seasons before retiring, then announcing his return this offseason. If Gronkowski is able to stay healthy and produce similar numbers, he will have a chance to cement his status the greatest tight end in league history. The Arizona product has five Pro Bowl appearances and four first-team All-Pro selections to his name.

Drafted team: Michigan

Dierdorf made six Pro Bowl appearances and was named first-team All-Pro three times. The Pro Football Hall of Fame eventually opened their doors for the productive lineman, who has enjoyed a long career as a broadcaster after his playing days, including 15 years for the NFL on CBS.

Drafted team: Steelers

Dawson is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made seven Pro Bowl appearances and was named a first-team All-Pro six times for the Steelers.

Drafted team: 49ers

Watters made five Pro Bowl appearances. He accumulated 10,643 rushing yards and 4,248 receiving yards during his career. He started all but two games in which he played, which is pretty remarkable.

Drafted team: Steelers

Pittsburgh seems to be really well-represented on this list. Larry Allen was a tantalizing option as well at No. 46. Both he and Lambert were selected first-team All-Pro six times and are in the Hall of Fame. Lambert gets the slight edge for us with this pick, however, with his four Super Bowl titles as well as hardware for winning the 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year and 1976 Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Drafted team: Seahawks

Wagner is one of a handful of active players on this list. He remains one of the most effective linebackers across the league. He has been selected to six Pro Bowls and is a five-time first-team All-Pro. Wagner will only continue to distance himself from the competition. The California native was a member of the Super Bowl XLVIII championship team.

Drafted team: Raiders

Long's contribution to the game continued beyond his own playing career in the form of his sons, Chris and Kyle Long. The elder rusher made eight Pro Bowl appearances and was twice selected first-team All-Pro. He accumulated 84 sacks over the course of his career.

Drafted team: 49ers

The 49ers are another well-represented team on this list. It's fitting that San Francisco makes our list at No. 49 overall. Craig made four Pro Bowl appearances and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988. The NFC franchise won three Super Bowls with the running back on their roster.

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Ultimate NFL Draft: The best pick for all 256 slots over the last 50 years, from Peyton Manning to Ryan Succop - CBS Sports

More than 1,000 tons of microplastic rains in protected areas across the western United States every year the equivalent to more than 123 million plastic bottles new research suggests. Long-term accumulation of small pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimeters long is reminiscent of the global dust cycle but distinctly human in origin, posing potential consequences for vulnerable ecosystems around the world.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that began its lifecycle as a larger piece that has fragmented over time. Previous research has shown that its raining plastic in Americas Rocky Mountains and snowing microplastics in the Arctic and with more than 340 metric tons of plastic produced in 2017, the world shows no signs of global production slowing down. As such, it is estimated that 11 billion metric tons of plastic will have accumulated in the environment within the next five years.

Using high-resolution atmospheric deposition data, researchers at Utah State University set out to identify samples of microplastics and other particulates collected over 14 months in 11 national parks and wilderness areas located in Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, California, Utah, and Nevada. Pieces were compared by their size and shape and identified through their composition in order to identify sources of plastic emitted in the atmosphere, whether they moved through dry or wet conditions, and where they were ultimately deposited.

"We were shocked at the estimated deposition rates and kept trying to figure out where our calculations went wrong," said study author and Assistant Professor Janice Brahney in a statement. "We then confirmed through 32 different particle scans that roughly 4 percent of the atmospheric particles analyzed from these remote locations were synthetic polymers.

Plastic was present in 98 percent of all wet and dry samples amounting to a daily deposition rate of 132 plastics per square meter. Most plastic deposited through precipitation was sourced from cities and areas with high population densities while, on the other hand, plastics that were deposited under dry conditions showed indicators of having traveled long distances through atmospheric patterns, in some cases across continents.

"Several studies have attempted to quantify the global plastic cycle but were unaware of the atmospheric limb," said Brahney. "Our data show the plastic cycle is reminiscent of the global water cycle, having atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial lifetimes."

Most fibers deposited in both dry and wet conditions were those from clothing and industrial materials; approximately 30 percent were brightly colored acrylic microbeads likely derived from industrial paints and coatings rather than personal care products, while 4 percent of atmospheric particulates identified from remote locations were plastic polymers. Even so, the study authors add that their findings likely underestimate the actual pervasiveness of environmental microplastics as they didnt count clear or white particles.

"This result, combined with the size distribution of identified plastics, and the relationship to global-scale climate patterns, suggest that plastic emission sources have extended well beyond our population centers and, through their longevity, spiral through the Earth system," write the study authors in Science.

Plastic has become ubiquitous in the environment yet consequences for human and environmental health remain largely unknown. Understanding how the pollutant is transported through the environment is an important mechanism in understanding how microplastics circumnavigate the globe, particularly in vulnerable environments.

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Over 1000 Tons Of Plastic Raining Down On US National Parks And Protected Areas Each Year - IFLScience