Antibiotics slow down aging. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Antibiotics slow down aging

01.06.2013

Scientists from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne have discovered a group of genes that have a significant impact on life expectancy, and this process can be controlled using available drugs, in particular antibiotics. Swiss scientists are the first to discover a mechanism that operates within the mitochondria and significantly slows down the aging process, at least in the laboratory and in model organisms - nematode worms and mice. It turns out that the introduction of antibiotics to young individuals can significantly prolong the life of animals, and possibly humans.

Why, in a homogeneous population of the same species, do some individuals live three times as long as others? This question has baffled scientists for centuries. Swiss scientists believe they have found the answer. A mechanism is revealed, the violation of which with the help of antibiotics increases the lifespan of nematodes by 1,6 times. The same mechanism appears to add an extra 365 days to mice (usually living 900-250 days).

The mechanism works inside mitochondria, the organelles that convert nutrients into proteins and ATP, which is used as an energy source for muscles. Scientists analyzed the genome of mice with different lifespans and found a group of three genes located on chromosome number two, which has not yet been considered as a target for finding important factors in aging. However, measurements have shown that a 50% reduction in the expression of these three genes, and, consequently, the amount of proteins that they encode, adds 250 "extra" days to mice in life.

The scientists then tested their discovery on nematodes: reducing the production of the same proteins also extended life: by 60% (from the usual 19 to more than 30 days). Overall, the study found that the availability of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) was inversely related to lifespan. You can reduce the amount of these proteins with the help of available drugs, such as antibiotics. Unfortunately, only young individuals can prolong life in this way: similar therapy does not work on adults.

The discovery of Swiss scientists promises brilliant prospects in terms of life extension. The new mechanism is simple and not only increases the life time, but also allows you to maintain health for a long time. Thus, treated nematodes were in excellent shape much longer than their counterparts and had increased endurance and muscle strength.

Scientists believe that the mechanism they discovered works in other mammals, including humans. However, to create an appropriate therapy that prolongs a healthy life, very complex and lengthy studies are required. Firstly, therapy must be carried out in a strictly specific period of the development of a young organism, and this period for humans has not yet been determined, and secondly, to obtain the results of therapy performed on humans, it will be necessary to collect life-long statistics of experimental subjects. But, most likely, there will be enough people willing to take part in such an experiment.

<< Back: DNA changes in 1 hour 01.06.2013

>> Forward: Mobile router with electronic ink screen 31.05.2013

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Airplane comfort and dryness 28.10.2001

An adult human is 60% water. With exhaled air and evaporation through the skin, each of us releases about 100 ml of water per hour - half a glass.

Therefore, in a Boeing that takes 350 passengers on board and delivers them from London to Sydney in 17 hours, approximately 600 liters of water accumulates in the gap between the outer durable shell and the inner skin, condensing on cold metal. This does not benefit aircraft structures and cables laid between the walls. It is believed that due to water condensation in the hull, a DC-11 liner of the Swiss company Swissair could have died a few years ago off the coast of America. Sometimes the moisture accumulated in the tail unit freezes and the rudders stop turning.

It is also important that the humidity in the cabin drops to 20%, while 40% is considered comfortable humidity. The Swedish company CTT Systems has developed an installation that removes this problem. Air from the cabin is passed through a moisture absorber - silica gel and enters the gap between the walls. There, dry air picks up moisture condensed on the walls and returns it to the passenger compartment.

So far, the new installations, costing from 40 to 120 thousand dollars, depending on the size of the liner, have been installed on their aircraft by KLM, Swissair and Lufthansa.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews