Are weighted blankets really beneficial? - The Economist

Soil-borne diseases hinder crop yield and quality. Liu et al. found that organic fertilizer induces tomato roots to secrete specific microRNAs (miRNAs) likely via exosome-like extracellular vesicles (EVs) to regulate rhizosphere microbiomes and enhance soil disease resistance, revealing a new mechanism and informing sustainable agriculture. MicroRNA-mediated rhizosphere microbiome regulation: a new insight into plant “cry for help” theoryBeing sessile organisms, plants frequently encounter various biotic and abiotic stresses during growth and development. The rhizosphere microbiome is regarded as the “second genome” of plants, and its community structure and functional diversity are directly related to the plant’s survival strategies and ecological adaptability1,2,3. Soil-borne diseases are a key bottleneck limiting crop yield and quality improvement. Conventional chemical control methods not only disrupt the soil microecological balance but also may pose food safety risks4,5.

Mareen FischingerJump to:Why is weighted walking effective? Everything you need to know to get startedA beginner-friendly weekly weighted walking routineThe bottom lineWeighted walking is having a moment right now – according to Google Trends, UK-based searches of the term are up by more than 5,000% in the last three months compared with the same period last year. The current buzz around this specific workout, says strength and menopause coach Alice Jordan, likely relates to (busy) people realising just how convenient and effective it is. Why is weighted walking effective? ‘Weighted walking is a really accessible way of making a normal walk more challenging without having to run or completely change your routine,’ she says. ‘By adding load, you increase the demand on your muscles and cardiovascular system, so your heart rate and energy expenditure can increase even at the same walking speed.’‘Research shows that weighted vests can increase the metabolic cost [the amount of energy your body uses to perform an activity] of walking,’ notes Jordan.

The spacecraft delivered materials and equipment for new research studies to the station.

ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8061-88361, Yaser Mehri2, Ali Abdolrazaq Sabbar3, Mohammad Javad Nahvinia3 & … Mohammad Hosein Omid2 We’re sharing this article early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted research. It is citable and carries a permanent DOI. This version is subject to further edits and will be replaced automatically by the final Version of Record. All legal disclaimers apply.