Saturday Quotes: Mediterranean diet racks up more points; persistent quantum coherence; vegan dogs

This week, we discussed the birth pangs of black holes, the dubious claims of a study on vegan dogs, and a technique for observing entanglement without breaking quantum coherence.

Neutrino prediction

When a large star burns up its nuclear core, it explodes in a supernova that throws stellar matter at thousands of kilometers per second. However, these stellar ejecta can be asymmetrically balanced, resulting in a recoil called a “natal kick” that propels a newly formed neutron star to high speeds. And astronomers have confirmed large-scale asymmetries in the remains of the supernovas that created neutron stars.

Now, in a new study, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany explored whether natal kicks caused by neutrinos play a role in the formation of black holes. Using observations of a massive black hole binary system called VFTS 243, they calculate that the binary’s black hole suffered a natal kick of 4 kilometers per second. This is notably a small natal neutrino kick, but the calculation agrees with theoretical predictions.

Eat this, you feel better

Many studies demonstrate the benefits of a Mediterranean diet including weight loss, cancer prevention, brain health, cognitive benefits which include a reduced rate of cognitive decline, gut health, and heart health. But researchers are still conducting studies on this eating style, which places a heavy emphasis on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, healthy fats like those found in oily fish and olive oil and fermented foods like yogurt.

A new study by researchers at the University of South Australia and the University of the Sunshine Coast finds that the Mediterranean diet (which I’m tempted to call “eating like an adult”) reduces symptoms of stress and of anxiety. Researchers assessed the diet’s impact on the mental health of 294 elderly volunteers and reported that it reduced the severity of anxiety and stress across age, gender and body mass index.

UniSA researcher Dr Evangeline Mantzioris said: “In this study, we showed that when older people adhered to a Mediterranean diet, their symptoms of stress and anxiety decreased, and that this happened regardless of their age, gender, BMI or amount of sleep and anxiety. to exercise. This is a major plus for the Mediterranean diet: through a relatively simple lifestyle change, people can significantly improve their stress and anxiety levels; Who wouldn’t want to try? »

Persistent wave function

I feel like it’s my responsibility to break quantum coherence by observing things, just in case entangled particles lower the value of properties by defying classical mechanics. No waves work in my neighborhood. Basically, quantum coherence refers to the ability of subatomic particles to exist in multiple states simultaneously. Once measured, it decoheres into a system that can only be described by classical mechanics. But a Harvard research team has demonstrated that quantum coherence can persist in a chemical reaction involving ultracold molecules.

Using laser cooling and magnetic trapping, the researchers cooled the potassium and rubidium molecules to a level close to absolute zero. The molecules slowed down, allowing researchers to detect individual quantum states. They found that quantum coherence was preserved and deduced that the K₂ and Rb₂ the molecules were entangled. By deliberately decohering molecules, they demonstrated control over the distribution of reaction products. In theoretical terms, this answers long-standing questions about whether quantum coherence can be maintained during a chemical reaction in which multiple bonds break and form.

Correlation is still not causation

One of the worst things to happen in the 2010s was when Redditors discovered the phrase “correlation is not causation” and used it as a big Cloud Strife sword to hit real people scientists discussing their work on Reddit. Scientists are aware of the inequality of causation and correlation. This is so fundamental that studies are designed to take it into account. Yet in an unfortunately vindicating development for insufferable science writers, a new animal diet study refutes a previous study essentially because it confuses correlation with causation.

As a hound owner with a history of dietary indiscretion and a nose for curbside food packages, I’m not entirely impervious to health claims about feeding dogs a vegan diet. A study in April 2022 recommended a nutritionally balanced vegan diet as “the healthiest and safest food choice for dogs”, but scientists at the University of Liverpool re-examined the data and found that The study did not support its claims, including associations between a vegan diet and owners’ perceptions of dog health.

Alex German, professor of small animal medicine, said: “Upon first reading this article in 2022, it was clear that the study relied exclusively on owner survey data and had an observational design, which which means that the associations between diet type and dog health could only suggest possible correlation and not causation.

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