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Study shows swimming is an effective part of the treatment for fibromyalgia

Researchers found that swimming was as beneficial as walking in reducing pain intensity and improving quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia. Both swimming and walking improved scores on clinically validated questionnaires, indicating significant improvements in physical function and mental health.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·DateAug 18, 2016

Unraveling the jaw-dropping goblin shark

Researchers at Hokkaido University analyzed footage of goblin sharks capturing prey using a high-speed jaw projection, called 'slingshot feeding', which propels the jaws at speeds of up to 3.1 meters per second. This adaptation allows the shark to compensate for its slow swimming speed in deep-sea environments where food is scarce.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 10, 2016

Don't freestyle 'swimmer's shoulder' injuries

Competitive swimmers are at risk of shoulder injuries due to the high stress on their joints. Proper technique, training, stretching, and strengthening can help prevent these injuries. Swimmers may experience signs such as a dropped elbow or excessive body roll, which can be diagnosed with a thorough physical examination.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·DateAug 4, 2016

What's really in your swimming pool?

Harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) form when chlorine and other chemicals react with organic matter in pool water, causing respiratory problems like asthma among swimmers. Practicing good hygiene, such as taking showers before entering the pool, can help reduce DBP levels.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateAug 3, 2016

The intravenous swim team

Drexel researchers create chains of microscopic magnetic bead-based robots that can swim at impressive speeds through a microfluidic environment. The team demonstrates their ability to link and unlink the beads using a rotating magnetic field, paving the way for targeted medicine delivery and minimally invasive surgery.

SourceDrexel University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 28, 2016

Tiny 'racetracks' show how bacteria get organized

When bacteria are confined to millimeter-sized, fluid-filled oval tracks, they quickly organize into a collective motion, with individuals moving in opposite directions. The research, published in the New Journal of Physics, shows that mechanical interactions between bacteria and their surroundings drive this complex behavior.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateJul 13, 2016

'Homing turtles' go back to familiar grounds

Researchers tracked turtles released outside their familiar areas and found most returned home, often within a few hundred meters of their original location. The study's findings have important implications for turtle conservation, supporting the idea that long-term resettlement is not a realistic option.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalMarine Biology·DateMar 30, 2016

Microrobots learn from ciliates

Researchers create microrobots that mimic the movement of ciliates, beating filaments propelled by green light. The robots exhibit wave-like movements and can potentially be used for medical applications, such as detecting and curing diseases.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 25, 2016

Sauropod swimmers or walkers?

A new study of fossil tracks in northern China suggests that sauropod dinosaurs were walking, not swimming, despite previous theories. The tracks, dating back over 120 million years, show four or five claw marks at the front and are matched perfectly by the feet of medium-sized sauropod dinosaurs.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 18, 2016

The S-stroke or I-stroke?

A research team from the University of Tsukuba found that the S-stroke is more efficient for middle and long distance swimming due to its ability to generate propulsive power with less physical exertion. In contrast, the I-stroke is better suited for short distances where speed over efficiency is prioritized.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of Sports Sciences·DateJan 14, 2016

Ancient 4-flippered reptile flapped like a penguin

Researchers used computer simulations to determine that plesiosaurs flapped their front flippers in an underwater flight motion, similar to that of a penguin, to achieve propulsion. The rear flippers were likely used for steering and stability, contradicting previous assumptions about their role.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateDec 17, 2015

A row-bot that loves dirty water

Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a row-bot that can operate indefinitely in remote locations by harnessing energy from dirty water. The robot's bio-inspired mechanism allows it to feed on nutrient-rich water, generating electricity through microbial fuel cells.

Zooplankton: Not-so-passive motion in turbulence

Researchers found that zooplankton copepods display energetic behavior in turbulent flows, amplifying the flow's intermittent properties. Their self-induced motion adds to fluctuations in speed, affecting feeding efficiency and ecological modeling.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateNov 11, 2015

Race starts could give some athletes an unfair advantage

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that varying pause times before the starting gun can result in significant differences in finishing times among athletes. The researchers propose introducing a warning step to ensure all athletes are ready before the start, and even suggest computerized procedures to minimize human error.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateOct 28, 2015

Introducing the single-cell maze runner

Researchers discovered single-cell organisms can somersault and bend their bodies to navigate confined spaces, exhibiting unique behaviors such as meandering wanderings and ballistic swimming traits. This finding has significant implications for the study of microfluidics and its applications in various engineering and scientific fields.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 19, 2015

Bass use body's swimming muscles to suck in food

Researchers at Brown University found that largemouth bass use their swimming muscles to generate suction power for feeding. The study revealed that up to 95% of the power required for suction comes from the swimming muscles, not the mouth bones.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 22, 2015

Not so cold-blooded creatures

Endothermic fish, including sharks and tunas, can swim two and a half times faster and twice as far as cold-blooded species. This unique physiological characteristic allows them to maximize their swimming distance and speed, providing benefits for hunting and reproduction.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 6, 2015

Diverse sea creatures evolved to reach same swimming solution

A new study reveals that diverse sea creatures have evolved to swim with elongated fins using the same mechanical motion, maximizing speed and ensuring survival. The researchers found a consistent ratio of 20, known as the optimal specific wavelength (OSW), which is a key finding in understanding convergent evolution.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 28, 2015

These jellyfish aren't just drifters

Researchers tracked jellyfish movements with GPS loggers and observed their swimming direction to show they can actively swim counter-current in response to drift. The findings could help predict and avoid troublesome jellyfish blooms, improving management of these ocean ecosystems.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 22, 2015

Predatory sea snails produce weaponized insulin

A new study reveals that cone snails add a unique form of insulin to their venom cocktail, which disrupts blood glucose levels and causes hypoglycemic shock in fish. The snail insulin may help unlock secrets of insulin function and energy metabolism.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2015