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Vest helps athletes keep their cool

A new cooling vest has been developed to help athletes cope with sweltering summer conditions, such as the 2020 Summer Olympics. The vest, designed by Hiroshima University and a Japanese sportswear company, features ice packs and a cooling collar that can reduce heart rate and body temperature.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateJun 17, 2019

UNC researchers discover how body temperature wrecks potential dengue, Zika vaccine

Researchers from UNC School of Medicine found that natural body temperature affects the stability of a promising vaccine component, potentially rendering it ineffective against dengue and Zika viruses. The study suggests that stabilizing the pairing propensity of this component is critical to creating an effective vaccine.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMay 18, 2018

Do our mitochondria run at 50 degrees C?

Researchers discovered that mitochondria operate at temperatures up to 50°C, contradicting the long-held assumption of 37.5°C. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of cellular processes and energy production.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 25, 2018

Warmer body temp puts the heat on the common cold

A new Yale study found that warmer body temperatures impaired key immune system proteins in human airway cells, but did not completely disable the immune response. Researchers also identified two additional mechanisms that contribute to defense against the cold virus at core body temperature.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 11, 2016

Hot water puts crocs at risk

A University of Queensland study finds that climate warming causes saltwater crocodiles to spend less time submerged, compromising their ability to avoid predators and forage underwater. The research suggests that elevated water temperatures pose a significant threat to the species' survival.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalConservation Physiology·DateDec 15, 2015

A printable, flexible, lightweight temperature sensor

A University of Tokyo research group has developed a flexible, lightweight temperature sensor that responds rapidly to tiny thermal changes. The sensor is composed of graphite and a semicrystalline acrylate polymer and can measure body temperature with high accuracy without additional circuitry.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 9, 2015

Climate change threatens survival of common lizards

A new study found that a 2°C warmer climate may lead to rapid population extinctions in common lizards, with up to 30% of European populations at risk. The researchers used experimental conditions to simulate warmer climates and observed increased adult mortality, decreased population growth rates, and a shift in demographic strategy.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 26, 2015

This fish out of water cools down fast: Study

Researchers found that mangrove rivulus fish rapidly lose body temperature by jumping out of water and onto solid ground, where evaporation cools them down. The study, led by the University of Guelph team, also showed that these fish can tolerate warmer waters better after being exposed to higher temperatures for a week.

SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalBiology Letters·DateOct 21, 2015

Keeping the body ticking

A team of scientists discovered a molecular switch that regulates the body's circadian clock, allowing it to keep time. The 'phosphoswitch' maintains clock speed despite temperature changes and metabolic signals.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalMolecular Cell·DateOct 1, 2015

Telling the time by color

Research reveals color has a major impact on how our body clock measures time of day, outperforming brightness as a reliable method. The study found that changes in light color between blue and yellow are more sensitive to the body clock than changes in brightness.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 20, 2015

Cold virus replicates better at cooler temperatures

Researchers found that the common cold virus, rhinovirus, replicates more efficiently in cooler temperatures, such as inside the nose. The study suggests that lower body temperature impairs the innate immune response to the virus, making it easier for the virus to replicate.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 5, 2015