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Ever wondered why your veins look blue? Even though your blood is red, veins appear blue because of the way light penetrates the skin and is absorbed and scattered. Blue and green wavelengths penetrate human tissue more deeply than red wavelengths.

Environment

AI Finds Elephants Use Names

Researchers from Colorado State University, Save the Elephants, and ElephantVoices used machine learning to study how elephants communicate. They found that elephants use unique calls akin to names to address specific individuals within their herds, rather than addressing the entire group uniformly.

This discovery sheds light on the sophisticated social dynamics and communication abilities of elephants, crucial for managing human-elephant conflicts in shared landscapes. By analyzing recorded calls, the team observed that elephants responded more distinctly to calls directed at them personally, highlighting the personalized nature of these vocalizations.

George Wittemyer, a study co-author, emphasizes that such naming practices in animals reflect complex communication systems essential for navigating social interactions, paralleling human evolutionary pressures.

WATCH a video explainer below…

Health Sciences

Pomegranates Can Help Alzheimer’s Patients

A recent study has found that urolithin A, a natural compound found in pomegranates, may enhance memory and potentially aid in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen observed significant improvements in memory in mice with Alzheimer’s who were treated with urolithin A.

Alzheimer’s disease manifests through symptoms like forgetfulness, difficulty with words, and confusion about time and place. The study’s findings suggest that urolithin A could mitigate these symptoms and other consequences of dementia, according to Vilhelm Bohr, Affiliate Professor at the University’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

While the study was conducted on mice, the results are promising enough to warrant upcoming human clinical trials. Previous research from the same team highlighted the role of nicotinamide riboside in facilitating the removal of damaged mitochondria from the brain, a process crucial for addressing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Bohr explained that many patients with these conditions experience mitochondrial dysfunction, hindering the brain’s ability to clear out weak mitochondria. Stimulating this clearance process, known as mitophagy, has shown positive effects on brain function. Interestingly, urolithin A appears to stimulate mitophagy similarly to nicotinamide riboside supplements, potentially offering therapeutic benefits.

Despite these promising findings, researchers are still determining the optimal dosage of urolithin A for humans. Bohr emphasized the need for further investigation but expressed optimism that urolithin A could be used preventively with minimal side effects, as observed in previous studies on related compounds.

The study, titled "Urolithin A improves Alzheimer’s disease cognition and restores mitophagy and lysosomal functions," has been published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

World News

1,000 Year Old Gaming Pieces Found in German Castle

A set of 1,000-year-old game pieces discovered in a German castle provides new insights into medieval pastimes. The set includes four flower-shaped pieces, a six-sided die, and a knight chess piece, all carved from antler.

The knight piece, showing wear from frequent use, indicates it was used extensively in chess games. The flower-shaped pieces retain traces of red paint, suggesting a two-player game with different colored sides.

These pieces were found under a wall segment in Stahleck Castle in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and date back to the 11th century. The excavation was conducted by experts from the University of Tübingen, the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Baden-Württemberg (LAD), and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI).

Dr. Jonathan Scheschkewitz from LAD noted that chess was one of the seven skills a knight should master in the Middle Ages, explaining why chess pieces are commonly found in castles. Chess, introduced to Europe from Persia in the early Middle Ages, has largely retained its original rules.

Dr. Lukas Werther from DAI highlighted the unexpected discovery of a complete game set from the 11th/12th century, emphasizing the significance of the knight piece.

An exhibition featuring the Stahleck findings and other medieval artifacts will be held at Pfullingen Schloss from June 15th to August 30th, showcasing the game pieces and exploring medieval gaming practices.

Mind Stretchers

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Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Long overdue! — Gerry Moore got this one right!

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