myth

Sleeping four hours a day and performing at your best is not a myth, it is a genetic rarity of 1% of the population

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There are people who boast of sleeping only four or five hours a day and claim to wake up fresh as a lettuce, something that can generate a lot of envy, but also skepticism, since it seems hardly credible being able to sleep little and be so active. And science has not stopped saying that sleeping little it is very bad for your healthalthough there is an exception to the rule (as we are used to seeing). What we knew. For decades, the unwavering recommendation of the World Health Organization and sleep medicine experts they have been clear: a healthy adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep night so that your immune system, your metabolism and your mental health function properly. Getting out of there, below, is buying tickets for diseases such as, for example, Alzheimer’s to appear. The exception. Given this rule, there is 1% of the world’s population that has a true genetic superpower that allows them to bypass this rule without any consequences. And the culprit has been detected by researcher Ying-Hui Fu, who after tracking down these people has seen that it has an important genetic component. How it looked. To do this, the researcher decided to analyze entire families where several of their members ‘functioned’ perfectly with just six hours of sleep, without showing daytime sleepiness or cognitive deterioration, while the rest of their family members needed more than eight hours of sleep. And from here, the culprit had a first and last name: the mutation of the DEC2 gene, known as BHLHE41. Although this finding has been the tip of the iceberg, because subsequent studies in animal models and entire families of humans have found a real cocktail of mutations in other genes that seem to optimize sleep so that four hours is more than enough. And it even gave them a ‘protective shield’ against cognitive decline when they faced even shorter nights. In the end they are all benefits. Because you don’t have to try. Reading about these mutations can be tempting, since, after all, different very relevant figures have sold us the myth that we should sleep little because it is a waste of time, and we should get up early at five in the morning. But the truth is that it is vital to separate these people who have an alteration in their genetics from people who sleep little because they want to. If this is not the 1% of the population (which is most likely), science suggests that chronically sleeping six hours or less during middle age increases the risk of suffer from dementia by 30%and even the chances of suffering from diabetes or hypertension also increase. This means that the body should not be deprived of sleep when it is ‘asking for’ it. Something that is noticeable as soon as you wake up. Future views. The interest of the scientific community aims to perfectly understand how these genes can make sleep much more efficient, and above all how they protect against different diseases related to sleep deprivation. In this way, the long-term goal is not necessarily to create pills so that we all sleep four hours and work more, but rather to develop therapies for sleep disorders or prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Images | user18526052 on Freepik In Xataka | Drink water right before going to sleep? Science has finally clarified whether it is a good idea or a terrible enemy of sleep

Neuroscience is debunking the myth of “crazing” the night before

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Given the need to want to study a specific topic efficiently, we can do numerous searches for the best technique to achieve itespecially those of us who are students. At first, science and education have maintained an almost unbreakable dogma: for a brain to associate two events and learn, constant repetition is the key. but now nuances have been added. What we do. Nowadays, it can be a study technique to stay up all night with coffee in hand trying to cram an entire syllabus intensely in a short period of time. This way, we only see the syllabus once and never again. But this is not the best study, reading or productivity technique in general. An evolution. For decades, classical learning models, such as those based on traditional reinforcement learning, assumed that the more times you are exposed to a stimulus followed by a reward (or hit), the faster you learn. However, a revolutionary study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), led by researcher and published recently in Nature Neuroscience has shown that we were looking at the problem backwards. And we saw it the other way around because the important thing in study is not how many times we expose ourselves to new knowledge, but the time that has passed between two temporal moments in which we have begun to study a concept. And this is precisely what tools such as the famous flashcards that appear in the educational field with increasing force take advantage of. What has been seen? The research team in this case carried out experiments with mice where dopamine was measured that freed your brain, pointing to the fact that the learning rate scales proportionally with the time interval between rewards, and not with the number of trials. To understand it easily, if a mouse has a long interval between two stimuli, it needs much fewer repetitions for its brain to release the dopamine necessary to consolidate what it has learned. This is why we see how the brain optimizes learning based on the total time invested in a spaced manner, making quick and repetitive bursts of study very ineffective. Because? We already know that spacing out study is best for our memory, but… Why does this happen? Here science tells us that dopamine acts as a very specific teaching signal in our brain circuits. In this way, when learning something new, dopamine updates our “predictions” retrospectively. When we try to understand why our memory works this way, we see that too much dopamine during intensive initial learning can even impair early memory consolidation, causing us to be so overwhelmed that we retain nothing. But when it has time to act, it has the ability to strengthen the synapses to establish knowledge in our long-term memory. Simply put, if we don’t let the brain rest between repetitions, the neurochemical consolidation processes are not allowed to do their job. In real life. As we have been repeating, this is the scientific basis that establishes the bases of the study focused on flashcards or even in well-known applications such as Duolingo to learn languages. These systems take advantage of spaced repetition to maximize the retention in memory of the new knowledge they are faced with. And in case evidence is missing, a study done on medical students has shown that using double-spaced repetition techniques compared to single-spaced or traditional intensive study increases long-term knowledge retention drastically, since 62% retention is achieved, while before the study 52% was retained. Images | sq lim In Xataka | People who go to the library to study do not do it for show: science is clear that it is very productive

We tend to think that the war of extermination was invented by the modern State. A mass grave from 2,800 years ago has just destroyed the myth

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There is an almost romantic tendency to idealize the remote past. Perhaps, inspired by the myth of the “noble savage” they often let’s imagine prehistory and the first societies as peaceful environments where extreme violence and systematic was an aberration or, in any case, an invention that came with the help of more modern times. But the reality is that if we had a time machine, this would be one of the few places where we would have to travel. A reality. Archeology has an uncomfortable habit of unearthing truths that do not fit our prejudices. The latest blow to this idyllic vision that some may have comes from the Balkans, specifically from a mass grave in Gomolava from 2,800 years ago that reveals a calculated, selective and brutal massacre against women and children. A mystery. In the 9th century BC, during the first Iron Age, the Carpathian and Balkan region was inhabited by societies that we today consider primitive. Specifically, they could be found semi-nomadic groups and sedentary communities who were beginning to clash for control of the territory. But here there were neither states nor regular armies. In this way, when archaeologists found a huge mass grave with the remains of 77 individuals at the Gomolava site, the first hypothesis was the most logical for the time: a catastrophic epidemic devastated everyone. However, a new study published in the magazine Naturehas completely rewritten the history of this site, combining forensic, genetic and isotopic analyses. Annihilation. Here the DNA was clear, since there was no trace of deadly pathogens. In this case, people died not from a disease, but from an outbreak of deliberate violence that has shocked the scientific community. Not only because of the violence, but because of the demographic profile, since 70.8% of the adults were women and 66% of the total were children and adolescents. Here the forensic analyzes revealed a terrifying pattern, since the vast majority had injuries at the time of death in the skull. Thus, they were forceful blows inflicted from above, suggesting that the attackers could have been on horseback or executing the victims while they were kneeling or subdued. Why children and women? The answer is pure strategic calculation, since the study of isotopes and DNA revealed that, with the exception of a mother and her two daughters, the victims were not related to each other and came from various regions with varied diets. But it was not a simple robbery gone wrong, but rather an interregional selective annihilation designed to wipe the reproductive future of rival groups off the map. And, in a context of profound social restructuring and territorial conflicts in the Carpathian Basin, eliminating offspring and those people who can produce even more offspring, such as women, was the most brutal and effective way to assert power in an area. Without a doubt, a great strategy to prevent anyone from claiming rights in that area. Ritual. To add another layer of complexity to this dark episode, the burial was not improvised. Contrary to what happens in many mass graves that are quickly made to throw the corpses, andIn this case they took their time. Investigators saw that the victims were buried next to bronze jewelry, ceramics and even sacrificed animals, so it was quite taken care of. Here the theory proposed is that it is a “macabre demonstration of power”: an act where the brutality of the massacre coexists with the socioeconomic value of the victims and the need to maintain the funeral customs of the time. Image | Sarah Nylund (Nature) In Xataka | When did human beings start “cooking”? The answer lies in some carp from 780,000 years ago.

There are electricians against the myth of electric radiators in winter

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Winter not only brings cold; It brings with it the fear of opening the mailbox and finding the energy bill. The scenario becomes complicated when we move away from the new work. Heating an old home is, today, one of the great challenges for homeowners and reformers. High ceilings, thick uninsulated walls and outdated installations turn thermal comfort into an obstacle course. In this context, many users find themselves caught between the desire for efficiency and the technical impossibility of installing the most modern systems. At first glance, the most convenient solution seems to be the electric radiator: plug and play. However, as experts warnthis convenience comes at a price. If not calculated well, these devices can easily become a “hole in the bill” at the end of the month. The reality of the brick versus technology. While Europe talks about heat pumps and decarbonization, the reality of Spanish homes is moving at a different pace. Many of the current solutions, such as underfloor heating either aerothermalare not always viable in historic or older buildings due to structural limitations. Fran Carbonell, electrician specialized in rehabilitation, explains in your TikTok account that, far from being dead, electric radiators are consolidated as an “efficient, simple and compatible alternative” with the character of these homes when it is not possible to carry out major works. Carbonell defends models such as natural stone emitters, which offer interesting thermal inertia without the need to break up floors. There is a sweepinvisible: the wiring. It is worth remembering, and this is not to put my finger on the sore spot, that 80% of the homes in Spain It has obsolete electrical installations and only 22.4% were built after the 2002 Technical Regulation. This means that before thinking about powerful systems, the house must be prepared. In fact, Carbonell himself insists on a key condition for installing radiators safely: “It is essential to carry out an independent electrical installation”, since conventional plugs Many old houses do not support the necessary power. Physics does not forgive the pocketbook. To understand why some options are more expensive than others, you have to look beyond the price of the device and look at efficiency. This is where it comes into play the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP). As explained from Xataka Homea traditional electric radiator has a ratio of 1 to 1. That is, for every kilowatt (kW) of electricity you pay, you get 1 kW of heat. However, a heat pump (aerothermal) has an efficiency of 4 or 5. You pay 1 kW of electricity, but the machine returns 4 kW of heat because it “steals” the remaining thermal energy from the outside air for free. The translation into euros. If we update the calculator to the market prices of this first week of February, the electricity bill shows a truce relative, but dangerous. A standard 1,500 W radiator on five hours a day consumes 225 kWh per month. With the average price of the wholesale market hovering around minimums thanks to renewables, the monthly cost per device today would be around 27 euros for regulated rates. However, during peak hours or with high fixed rates, that same device can skyrocket to 45 euros per month. If we multiply by four radiators for a complete home, the range ranges between 108 and 180 euros extra on the bill. So what is the best option? The short answer is: it depends on your house and your initial budget. On the one hand, the efficiency winner—if you can afford it— It is Aerothermal. OCU studies confirm that the cheapest option for the pocket in the long term is the heat pump (aerothermal), followed by biomass. An example cThis is the case of Natalia, collected by The Spanish in Novemberwho went from spending 1,300 euros per year with radiators to around 400 euros after the reform, although the initial investment was around 6,500 euros. On the other hand, if you live in an old house where you cannot raise the floor, or in an area where winter is mild, electric radiators still make sense. They are the recommended option for “specific uses or small rooms.” What if I switch to gas? If we look at the other side, natural gas is experiencing a moment of contained stability at the start of the year. According to MIBGAS datathe daily price stands at €31.72/MWh, with a forecast for March that drops slightly to €30.85/MWh. This means that the “raw material” of gas remains competitive (just €0.031/kWh before taxes), being notably cheaper than raw electricity. However, the advantage is diluted when adding the fixed costs of the bill, boiler maintenance and the lower efficiency of the system compared to aerothermal energy. Furthermore, although today the price is attractive, the volatility of the European market and regulatory pressure to eliminate fossil boilers They add a layer of long-term uncertainty for anyone considering a new installation now. Tricks that are worth money. Regardless of the system you choose, there are golden rules that physics and experts recommend to avoid throwing away money in 2026: Turning off is saving: Forget the myth that “it’s better to keep it on.” Jorge Morales de Labra, energy expertis blunt: “Even if you go down for five minutes to buy bread, it’s worth turning it off.” Maintaining the temperature in an empty house means paying for constant heat losses. The 21 degree limit: Every degree you rise above 21 ºC increases the bill by 7%. That is the invisible barrier that you should not cross. “Low Cost” Insulation: If you can’t change the windows, there are effective patches. According to Decoesferathe use of weather stripping, wool rugs and the strategic closing of blinds to avoid thermal leaks. A resistance against the cold. While aerothermal energy is crowned as the queen of technical efficiency, electric radiators resist as the necessary trench solution for an aging real estate park that does not always allow for comprehensive renovations. The best decision depends of a … Read more

The digital detox has been fashionable for years. It’s time to start talking like what is: a myth

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Social networks have helped us in many aspects of our life, allowing us for example to strengthen some social relationships, or taking a way to express our creativity. But all this has come with a price to pay. A cost that has noticed our mental health, which has led many to try with a time to “digital detoxification.” The problem is that it may not be too useful strategy. Not so effective. Withdraw a time from social networks It is not an effective “disconnection strategy”according to a meta -analysis carried out by a Belgian team of researchers from the universities of Antwerp and Gante, at least if we are looking to improve Our well -being. The good news: at least we do not have indications that disconnection does us badly. “The findings (…) suggest that temporarily separating ourselves from social networks may not be the approximation (…) optimal to improve individual well -being,” Write the teamwhich also points out in his study the need to continue research on alternative disconnection strategies. Ten studies. The new work is a meta -analysis, that is, a “quantitative study of studies.” The team conducted a systematic search for scientific literature that addressed the relationship between social media abstinence and one or more than three variables: positive and negative affections, and vital satisfaction. They found 10 quantitative works with a total sample of 4,674 participants. The analysis showed no significant effects of refraining from social networks in any of the three variables studied. The team also did not find indications that the duration of the period of “Digital detoxification“It will be relevant. The details of the study were published In an article In the magazine Scientific Reports. Need to investigate more. The team emphasizes the need to advance in research on this issue. According to the team itself, the study presents one of the usual problems in the meta -analysis, and is the diversity in the methodologies followed by the works included in it. A radical change. Social networks have remarkably changed how we interact with technology, for better and for worse. The problems that this poses have appeared so suddenly that our ability to adapt, to look for solutions with which to repair the possible damage has exceeded in many contexts. In Xataka | How to recover the concentration that social networks and multitars have taken us Image | Xataka with Gemini

What’s true and what’s myth in the “tricks” to identify it

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It is almost a summer ritual: carefully choose a watermelon in the supermarket, get home, leave it, and the time of feeling the tooth feel the disappointment in our palate. Choosing watermelly is not easy And there is no infallible trick. But some, at least, can increase our probability of success while others, They are rather myths. There are two factors that make the choice of watermelon (and Also of the melon) A sensitive task. One of these factors is in your skin, which maintains its firmness and coloration throughout different stages of maturation. Checking the maturation status of a peach can be easy just by tighten and check the firmness of the fruit. In the case of banana we can do it at first sight only appreciating the color. The other factor is in the same process of maturation of these fruits. Both watermelon and melon are non -heated fruits. This means that these fruits only mature while they are connected to their plant, contrary to what happens with the Healthy fruits (such as banana or peach), which continue to mature even while resting in our fruit trees or refrigerators. As we pointed out, this makes the selection of this fruit a delicate process: if we do not succeed in the supermarket, it will not be enough to wait a few days for the watermelon to reach its ideal maturation. And how can we detect the maturation point of the watermelon? Perhaps the main clue we have when knowing if this fruit has reached its maturation point is The “stain” That is formed at the bottom. The yellowish spots They usually indicate A more ripe fruit, while the most pale and whitish indicates that the fruit was collected before reaching maturity. But this It is not the only clue that we can find in the skin of this fruit. Another indication is in the texture: it is convenient to look for melons with flat and rounded surfaces, avoiding those with visible marks. Although making a brand ourselves is an option. Scratching the skin of the fruit can give us another clue, since if when the brand the outermost layer is peeled easily and showing a somewhat whitish interior, we are more likely to be encountering a mature specimen. The maturation of the watermelon The color and texture of the skin It is not the only indication that we can use when identifying the correct watermelon. He Fruit weight (or your density rather) you can also give us a clue about what we will find after opening it. Sandia, such as melons, contain abundant water (they contain more than 90% water). According to experts, the heaviest watermelons with respect to their volume will be the ones that contain the most water and therefore the most juicy. If we are looking for melons in its maturity point, a factor that we must take into account is the date: the watermelon is a seasonal fruit: according to the seasonal fruits calendar of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, we can find watermelons between the months of May and September, the months being the months between June and August the highest level of commercialization (always including the mentioned months). The organization of consumers and users (OCU) the months between June and August (both included). The existence of discrepancies or difference between months with greater or lesser commercialization is in the fact that many factors can alter the fruit maturation process, especially weather and weather factors. What does this mean? That depending on the place of Fruit origin And depending on rainfall and temperatures throughout the year, watermelons can mature with greater or lesser speed, which will alter their flavor. Knowing this type of detail may be beyond the scope of the average consumer, but it can help refine our test and error method. In Xataka | Goodbye Olivares, hello pistacheros: in Spain the record crops are leaving them a fruit until recently residual Image | Crina-miriam pretu

It turns out that the myth that marriage fattens is true. But only for men

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There is a preconceived and quite widespread idea that relates marriage to accumulating kilos. Well now a group of researchers has contrasted that this prejudice with respect to the marriage union is correct. Or at least correct. An unequal effect. A new study has observed that the risk of obesity increases significantly in men after marriage. It triples, in fact. The same study, however, did not find a significant change in this probability in the case of women. Of course, the risk of developing overweight did increase in both groups. The results must still be interpreted with some caution because the details of the study have not yet passed the scrutiny of peer review and publication in a scientific journal. Those responsible for the work will be presented by this spring in the 32nd European Congress on Obesity that will be held in Malaga in May. Why do we get fat? The question of why we get fat can have many answers. The simplest is that our body absorbs more calories than it burns, so stores energy in the form of fat. However, this is only part of the story: there are many genetic, environmental or socioeconomic factors that we know are, the less, correlated with our risk of developing overweight or obesity throughout our lives. Little by little we verify that marriage is one of them. 3.2 times higher risk. The study indicated that marriage multiplied by 3.2 the risk of men to develop obesity, while the effect of this union was not significant in the case of women. The risk analysis to develop overweight showed a less marked difference. The team responsible for the study observed A 62% increase in the risk of overweight in the case of men. A risk that in the case of women stayed at 39%. Multiple factors. The study analyzed other factors linked to this relationship, which showed other connections of interest. It was thus observed that some factors affected the risk of obesity in the case of women. For example, depression caused the risk to be folded, while lack of health in terms of health also increased risk in women by 43%. This type of factors and interconnections helps us understand what is happening behind the data. Even so, the hypotheses are diverse (and complementary). For example, Less physical activity by men And social pressure in the case of women can help us understand the unequal phenomenon. “Research also suggests that men may have greater propensity to gain weight after marriage due to factors such as an increase in portions, social meals, and a decrease in physical activity; while women may remain more aware of weight due to social pressures ” He pointed to the British newspaper The Guardian Katharine Jenner, director of Obesity Health Alliance. Also age of age. Another important factor to take into account was that of age, as it could foresee. The study showed that age affected the probability of developing overweight and obesity, and that in this case the effect was greater in women than in men. Thus, for example, the risk of obesity increased by 3% per year in the case of men and 4% per year in the case of women. Understanding the context. Understanding the effect of factors such as marriage can help us develop more effective policies to address obesity and overweight, with the ultimate goal of addressing public health problems such as the increase in some non -transmissible diseases for which obesity and overweight are risk factors. In Xataka | We have a way to improve the effectiveness of treatments such as Ozempic to lose weight: deceive metabolism Image | Jeremy Wong

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