Researchers detect toxic substances in lettuce

Researchers have detected toxic additives from the abrasion of car tires in lettuce in a study. The tire particles enter the fields through wind, sewage sludge and wastewater, where the pollutants they contain can enter the vegetables. As the scientists showed in experiments, lettuce plants absorbed all five chemicals studied, some of which were highly toxic. Their study appeared in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Car tires are a significant source of microplastics that pollute the environment. The extent of tire particle emissions remains poorly quantified, scientists led by…

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What is better and healthier – butter or margarine?

They are supposed to provide a good foundation for bread and, of course, not harm our health. Butter or margarine: Who scores more points in the duel? It depends. At the breakfast table, the slice of bread on the plate, everyone has a favourite: Some need the soft taste of butter on their sandwich. Others prefer to reach for margarine as a vegetable alternative. Butter or margarine: which is healthier? “The question is not easy to answer,” says nutritionist and author Burkhard Jahn. And also, the Diplom-Ökotrophologin and fat metabolism…

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Ventilation in winter: Why does condensation form on the window?

Are your windows also constantly fogging up, and no matter how long you ventilate, the moisture doesn’t dry? An energy expert explains why this happens – and what you can do about it. Especially in winter, you notice it: window panes fog up, and condensation forms in thick drops. Why does this happen? The quick answer: the humidity is too high, and you should ventilate to protect yourself from moisture damage and mold. Because the water film is an optimal breeding ground for the spores. Who wants to know it…

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New super corona variant – first cases in Austria reported

The highly contagious Omicron subline XBB.1.5 is already dominating the infection scene in the USA. The first cases appeared in Austria. Before the Christmas vacations and the turn of the year, the omicron subvariants BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and BQ.1.1.10 took the lead in the coronavirus race in Austria. But that could quickly change again: since mid-December, the corona variant XBB.1.5 has dominated in the northeastern U.S., and its share is already increasing in other parts of the Americas. According to expert estimates, the Omicron subline could also spread in Europe in…

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Despite inflation – never unplug these three devices

Attention electricity guzzlers! The topic of saving energy is ever-present. Every individual can save electricity and thus money within their own four walls. One simple and efficient step is to pay attention to the power supply of electronic devices. For example, some cables should be unplugged, especially charging cables for smartphones and laptops. On the other hand, some apparatuses are better at remaining permanently connected to the power. Other electrical devices, such as smart TV, are often connected to the WLAN router. These devices are also disconnected from the WLAN…

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Are you addicted to your smartphone? Watch out for these symptoms

An addiction that worries more and moreFor millions of people, the smartphone has become a problematic habit of doing without. For some, the smartphone even threatens to become an addiction that one cannot do without, at the risk of becoming ill and suffering withdrawal symptoms, just like other addictive substances. The first sign to look out forHow do we know if we are addicted to the smartphone or if we might become so? There are a few signals we need to watch out for. According to the PEW Research Center…

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Should our days actually be shorter? – Researcher reveals details about Earth’s rotation

Our day has 24 hours; a year has 365 days – at least according to our generally accepted definition. A scientist has examined this more closely and now reveals that the reality is quite different because our days are shorter. According to our general understanding of the duration of a day, the Earth needs precisely 24 hours to make a full 360-degree rotation. However, a Japanese space agency JAXA researcher has now exposed this as false. As planet researcher James O’Donoghue explains, according to data from MSN, the Earth has…

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Dark bread = whole grain bread?

It is still often claimed that dark bread is baked from whole grains. Many consumers think they have purchased healthy whole-grain bread by buying dark bread. However, this impression is not always accurate. Because there are other ways than using whole grain to give the loaf a more muscular appearance. Even the addition of malt products is sufficient for obtaining a darker colour. The degree of milling of the flour used is decisive for evaluating the whole grain content of a loaf of bread. Thus, there are different types of…

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Virus trend reverses with 1,492 new corona cases

Corona numbers in Austria remain stable but are falling again. Most recently, however, recoveries declined significantly, and hospital numbers increased. So far, the new year has brought 2,685 new Corona cases on Sunday, 1,257 reported infections on Monday, just over 3,000 infections on Tuesday, 3,710 new infections on Wednesday, 3,159 new diseases on Thursday and 2,903 new viral cases on Friday. According to “heute.at” information on Saturday, there are currently 1,492 new Corona cases in the latest 24 hours. There are also two Corona deaths and 2,259 recoveries reported. A…

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