Premature

February 20, 20242min readDelayed umbilical cord snipping is worth the wait for preemiesBy Jesse GreenspanDoctors or midwives choose when to cut a baby's umbilical cord after birth. Credit: kieferpix/Getty ImagesWhen a baby is born prematurely, doctors often snip the umbilical cord and whisk the infant away for immediate medical intervention. But a new meta-analysis suggests they should not be so quick to sever the cord, which delivers oxygen and antibody-rich blood to the newborn.To compare umbilical cord practices for…

One in 10 premature births in the United States have been linked to pregnant women being exposed to chemicals in extremely common plastic products, a large study said on Wednesday.The chemicals, called phthalates, are used to soften plastic and can be found in thousands of consumer items including plastic containers and wrapping, beauty care products and toys.Phthalates have been known for decades to be "hormone disruptors" which affect a person's endocrine system and have been previously linked to obesity, heart…

A group of EV charger makers and operators is pushing back against Texas' plan to mandate the inclusion of Tesla technology in charging stations, saying it is "premature," according to a document seen by Reuters and a source aware of the matter.Reuters reported last week that Texas would require charging companies to include both Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) as well as the nationally recognized rival Combined Charging Standard (CCS) technology to be eligible for a state program to electrify highways…

Just because a fuel source may emit less CO2 when it’s used doesn’t mean that there aren’t adverse impacts along its entire life cycle. Air pollution from the production of fossil fuels is responsible for $77 billion in health damages across the U.S. and causes tens of thousands of adverse health impacts each year, a new study published Monday in Environmental Research: Health has found.Making Paint Cool in the Face of HeatBefore the intense fracking boom of the 2010s, natural gas enjoyed a reputation as a “bridge fuel”:…

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction that affects many men. It is characterized by the inability to control or delay ejaculation during sexual intercourse, leading to an unsatisfactory sexual experience for both partners. PE can cause significant distress and can have a negative impact on a man’s self-esteem and relationships. While the exact cause of PE is not well understood, it is thought to be a combination of psychological and physiological factors.A recent study has discovered promising…

Senior employees in the financial industry fear that their colleagues see them as worn-out and unproductive. Credit: University of Copenhagen Unproductive, inflexible, and less motivated... these are some of the most common stereotypes heard about senior employees. Even though the stereotypes are usually unfounded, they nevertheless influence how senior employees perceive themselves and their status in the workplace. And they…

The Vega-C rocket taking off from the Kourou space base, French Guiana on December 20, 2022.Photo: JM Guillon (AP)The Ukrainian space agency is not too happy with the results of an investigation into the Vega-C rocket anomaly, which blamed a faulty part made in Ukraine for the mission failure. In a statement issued on Monday, the State Space Agency of Ukraine condemned a recent failure report, arguing that “the presented conclusions remain to be premature and may still require further investigation to identify if there…

A recent study reveals that regions with stronger ties between individuals of varying socioeconomic backgrounds, as indicated by their Facebook friendships, have remarkably lower rates of premature death linked to heart disease.Better economic connectedness on social media linked with lower rates of premature death.Places with higher rates of economic connectedness—linkages between people of lower and higher socioeconomic status as indicated by Facebook friendships—had significantly lower rates of premature death related…

An examination of IQ scores obtained from military conscription intelligence tests revealed significantly lower scores for individuals born prior to 34 weeks gestation.However, researchers note that variations in brain function may be primarily driven by the social environment rather than one’s birth age.According to a recent large population study published in The BMJ, premature birth, before 34 weeks of pregnancy, is associated with lower scores in math and language tests during adolescence in comparison to those born…

A raging wildfire in a forested area with a responding helicopter in the sky. Credit: IOP PublishingOver 80% of premature deaths caused by small smoke particles in the United States result directly from human-ignited fires. This is the outcome of a study published today (January 16, 2023) in IOP Publishing’s journal Environmental Research Letters.The new study, led by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, analyses the impact of smoke particles on air quality in the United States. Their research shows…