As advanced as the human race is and probably will ever be‚ one thing nevertheless seems to stay true: as a species‚ we’re weirdly obsessed with dicks. If we’re not worrying about whether it’s big enough – it is‚ calm down – then we’re repurposing heart and blood pressure medication to try and make sure it’s hard enough.But before you get yourself thrown out of the clinic for drug-seeking behavior‚ perhaps there’s something else you can swallow that’ll get things straightened out again: Your goddamn vegetables.Eggplant: more than just an emojiIt may not be exciting‚ but one of the best ways you can look after your erectile function is to keep your heart healthy. “The mechanisms are interconnected‚” Aedin Cassidy‚ a professor at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Biological Sciences‚ told the BBC in 2023.As such‚ erectile dysfunction‚ or ED‚ is “a kind of barometer of heart health‚” she explained‚ and could be an “early warning that you may have heart health problems.” In fact‚ the two problems are so closely related that for men above 55‚ experiencing a significant episode of erectile dysfunction imparts a one in fifty chance of having a major stroke or heart attack within the year.So‚ if we’re asking what foods can help with erectile problems‚ it’s helpful to look at which help your heart and blood pressure. Top of the list? Fresh fruit and vegetables.“If you are worried about erectile dysfunction (ED)‚ you might want to turn to the produce section‚” explains a Harvard Health writeup of a seminal 2016 study into the role of specific nutrients on the condition. It followed more than 25‚000 men over ten years‚ linking up the incidences of ED with participants’ intake of a type of chemical compound known as flavonoids.“Of the main types of flavonoids‚ three had the greatest benefit: anthocyanins‚ flavanones‚ and flavones‚” the page reports. “High levels of these natural plant chemicals are found in berries‚ like blueberries‚ blackberries‚ and strawberries‚ as well as cherries‚ grapes‚ apples‚ pears‚ and citrus fruit.”The impact of these little blue berries wasn’t small‚ either: the researchers found that men who ate an average of at least three portions of flavonoid-rich foods each week were around ten percent less likely to experience erectile dysfunction. And some more good news: you can also get the pecker-perking ingredients from indulgences like cocoa and red wine (though‚ to be clear‚ they weren’t as good as the fruit and veg.)The weird thing is‚ we’re not quite sure why. There are some likely theories‚ though: flavonoids are known to affect the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood‚ which can help you harden up – this is actually how Viagra works – so that probably has something to do with it. Leafy greens like spinach and arugula (rocket‚ for readers outside North America) also contain high levels of nitrates‚ so add a few to your salad while you’re there.Previous research also suggests that flavonoids can inhibit the effects of certain artery-constricting proteins‚ which will likely have a beneficial effect on erectile function too. “The penis acts as a window to the health of the circulatory system‚” wrote Doug Lording‚ an endocrinologist and andrologist at Cabrini Hospital and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Monash University‚ in a 2014 article for The Conversation.“As blood vessels in the penis are smaller‚ they may be affected earlier than other parts of the body‚ such as the heart.”Oil me upFresh produce is a great start‚ but many studies have highlighted the benefits of taking it further. The so-called “Mediterranean diet” – one with a lot of fruit and vegetables‚ but also whole grains‚ nuts and seeds‚ herbs‚ healthy fats like olive oil‚ and fish – is a favorite recommendation for those hoping to add some wood to their chuck.Why is this combination of foods so beneficial? It’s likely a variety of things: omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce erectile dysfunction‚ at least in rats‚ so foods high in this compound – like fish‚ nuts‚ some oils‚ flax‚ and leafy greens – may help erectile performance. At least one long-term analysis has pinpointed olive oil as a beneficial ingredient for erectile health too – though (ironically) it has to be virgin or extra virgin‚ since the properties that likely help with erectile dysfunction are destroyed in the refinement process. Tomatoes – key for the diet that gave us recipes like pizza and pasta pomodoro – are also fantastic for beefing up your boner: they “are rich in vitamin C‚ carotenoids (lycopene) and polyphenols (rutin)‚” notes the study‚ “and also contribute to prevent vascular dysfunction in ED by exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties‚ improving NO availability‚ and normalizing aortic vasoconstriction.”Overall‚ however‚ the bedroom success of the Mediterranean diet may simply come down to the same cardio-dick connection as before. “A Mediterranean diet [is] linked with better exercise capacity‚ healthier arteries and blood flow‚ higher testosterone levels‚ and better erectile performance‚” said Athanasios Angelis of the University of Athens‚ Greece‚ back in 2021. He had just presented his research‚ which measured the correlation between adherence to a Mediterranean diet‚ and erectile dysfunction in 250 middle-aged men with high blood pressure. The results were clear: the participants who followed a Mediterranean diet showed higher tolerance for exercise‚ higher testosterone levels‚ better coronary and vascular health‚ and of course‚ improved erectile performance. “The findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet could play a role in maintaining several parameters of vascular health and quality of life‚” Angelis said.Watermelon‚ no sugarRemember how tomatoes were recommended because of their lycopene content? That’s a type of antioxidant which‚ despite its name‚ does not give you a wolf dick – but studies have noted that low intake of the chemical seems to be linked to erectile dysfunction.Once again‚ we’re not quite sure of the mechanism here‚ but rat studies have shown that lycopene can significantly lower blood glucose‚ reducing oxidative stress and releasing more of that sweet sweet nitric oxide. Its other main effect is to make things red – so look out for things like pink grapefruit or red peppers to cook up alongside the tomatoes.Or‚ of course‚ you could try watermelon. Not only is this a source of lycopene‚ but it also contains the amino acid citrulline – a substance that research is tentatively beginning to link to improved erectile performance.“Research into the effects of citrulline and watermelon is relatively new‚” notes Medical News Today‚ and most studies on it "have been small or looked only at animals. As such‚ it is too early to say there is conclusive proof that watermelon can act as a natural Viagra.”Nevertheless‚ they report‚ “preliminary research is promising […] most men can safely try watermelon juice or citrulline supplements as an alternative to Viagra.”After all‚ what could it hurt? Even if it doesn’t give you a citrulline-induced hard-on‚ it’s still fresh fruit – and really‚ that’s the takeaway from all this.“Ultimately‚ there’s no harm in trying to live a healthier lifestyle‚” Neel Patel‚ a GP from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor‚ told the BBC. “Ensuring you’re eating a balanced diet with the recommended amount of fruit‚ vegetables and whole grains is a brilliant place to start.”The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

Scientists have broken the record for the smallest and tightest molecular knot‚ creating a chemical that self-assembles into a knot with the formula [Au6{1‚2-C6H4(OCH2CC)2}3{Ph2P(CH2)4PPh2}3]. The makers highlight the six gold atoms at the start by referring to the entire molecule as Au6.The way a molecule affects others depends not just on the elements it's composed of‚ but on the shape these take on. Complex molecules can be folded in vast numbers of ways‚ and sometimes only one of these will produce the desired biological effects. Predicting and controlling such folding is considered one of the hardest problems in science‚ and one where computers are only just starting to displace humans. Knots represent the extreme end of this. It’s not easy to tie even long thin strands of atoms into knots because you can’t just grab the ends like pieces of rope on a sailboat. Finding ways to make molecules knot can help develop humanity’s capacity for more practical knotting. Since DNA‚ RNA‚ and many proteins knot without human intervention‚ performing knotting of our own helps us understand these vital molecules’ behavior.Knots are categorized by the number of crossings. Au6 forms the simplest kind of non-trivial knot‚ with three crossings‚ and is known as a trefoil. Chemists cannot measure the tightness of molecular knots in a physical sense‚ so they use the number of atoms in the knotted strand‚ dividing by the number of crossings‚ as a proxy. The fewer atoms per crossing‚ the tighter a knot is.Au6‚ produced by a team including Professor Richard Puddephatt of the University of Western Ontario‚ has just 54 atoms in its backbone. This compares with the previous record for a metallaknot of 69‚ while no organic trefoil knot has been achieved with fewer than 76 atoms. Much larger knots‚ with far more crossings‚ have achieved tightness scores as low as 24‚ but Au6’s 54 atoms and tightness score of 18 easily beats all. Theoretical models suggest that 50 atoms may be a minimum for a knot.Most molecular knot-making involves creating ever more complex knots‚ but there is a niche subfield in producing ever-tighter knots‚ as the below video accompanying an earlier record proves.         Small knots have generally been made by using metal ions to draw helical chains into a targeted shape and then pulling the metals out to leave a knot behind. It’s a stepping stone to stronger and lighter plastics‚ among other things.Au6‚ however‚ is made differently‚ and Puddephatt told New Scientist it was an accident. They were mixing two liquids containing different molecules to make structures with interlinked‚ but not knotted‚ chains called catenanes. Using X-ray crystallography to study the product‚ they found some of the catenanes had self-assembled into trefoil knots.“We’ve made many combinations of gold acetylides and phosphine ligands and they’ve never before given a trefoil knot‚” said Puddephatt. “We hadn’t predicted that this would happen in this case‚ so it was serendipity.” He also acknowledged the process was not fully understood‚ although it is repeatable and has potential for use in more complex situations.The study is published in Nature Communications.

On February 6‚ 2023‚ one of the worst earthquake sequences of the 21st century rocked Turkey and Syria‚ killing over 59‚000 people and displacing many more. It can be hard to imagine the colossal geological forces that produce these disasters‚ but a new collection of photography from the wake of the disaster manages to illustrate just that. In the days following the quakes‚ scientists from the China University of Geosciences‚ the US Geological Survey‚ and the Middle East Technical University rushed to eastern Turkey to document the surface deformations caused by the earthquake.One of their photographs shows how a once-straight railway track became bent with a prominent curve as a result of both ground shaking and liquefaction. Likewise‚ drone photography of farmland shows how the quakes radically shifted the fields‚ so much so that rows of crops have become dramatically offset.Earthquakes are primarily caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust due to tectonic plate boundaries (known as fault zones) crashing into each other and/or grinding past one another. The built-up stress can exceed the strength of the rocks‚ leading to a sudden rupture and the release of energy in the form of seismic waves that shake the ground.Drone image of the ground in farm fields offset by the February 2023 earthquake sequence in eastern Turkey‚ taken just 18 days after the earthquakes.Image credit: Jiannan MengWhen major geological upsets like this happen‚ soil liquefaction can occur. Strong shaking can disturb the strength and stiffness of the ground’s top layer‚ causing it to behave like an oozing syrup. This is how we see surface deformations like the bent train track‚ which defies our everyday perception of “trusty old Earth” being rigid and immutable. The 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake was‚ in fact‚ two earthquakes. The initial rupture occurred in the early hours of Monday‚ February 6‚ around the Dead Sea fault zone‚ but the most intense shaking (magnitude 7.8) happened 24 seconds later when the rupture reached the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). Some 7 hours later‚ a magnitude 4.5 aftershock hit the junction of the EAFZ with the Çardak-Sürgü fault‚ sparking a second major earthquake (magnitude 7.5) 86 minutes later.A rip in the Earth after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake taken 32 days after the incident on March 10‚ 2023.Image credit: Jiannan MengUsing their imagery‚ the researchers were able to gain an even more detailed idea of how the February 2023 earthquake unfolded. “The surface deformation‚ together with the geophysical data show that the rupture sequence started slowly on the Africa/Arabia plate boundary‚ and when the rupture hit the Arabia/Anatolia boundary‚ it exploded‚ like a bullet hitting a bomb‚ and activated the entire East Anatolian fault system‚ causing the vast destruction‚” a press release about the project explains. “Lessons learned will help protect other communities in earthquake-prone areas in the future‚” it added.The study is published in the journal Science.

In 1889‚ the London newspaper Pall Mall Gazette published a sensational article about the discovery of giant human bones in neighboring France. “A curious discovery has just been made at Vimoutiers‚ in the Department of the Orne‚ by a peasant living in the village of Cutesson. He was digging in his field when the ground suddenly gave way‚ and he fell into a hole 10 feet in depth. “The peasant had accidentally lighted upon a subterranean chamber‚ the existence of which was not previously suspected. On examination‚ a number of human bones‚ partially petrified‚ were found in an adjoining vault‚ constructed in the form of a circle. “The bones are of exceptionally large dimensions and appear to have belonged to a race of gigantic stature and great breadth of frame. In fact‚ the persons who have studied the case on the spot are of the opinion that the bodies must have been interred in this burial place at a very remote period. “Further researches have been temporarily interrupted by the subsidence of other plots of ground. It seems by no means improbable that some highly interesting discoveries will result from this accident.” According to Paul Brown from Singular Discoveries‚ at the end of the newspaper article‚ it was stated that excavations at the site were eventually temporarily stopped due to subsidence. The story immediately became widespread and was published in other British newspapers. This was written about in France itself; of course‚ the French press was simply not as read in the world as the British press. In particular‚ in French newspapers these finds were called “ossements humains d’une taille étonnante” (“human bones of amazingly large size”) and they also indicated some details that were not written in British newspapers. For example‚ the underground chamber where the skeletons were located was so large that two peasant horses fell into this hole. An 18-meter (60-foot) tunnel was also described‚ which led from an underground chamber to another‚ even larger‚ underground room. One of the articles about this discovery‚ written in the French newspaper La Petit Presse‚ ended with the following message: “We are pleased to provide archaeologists and antiquarians with a new opportunity to show their insight and expand their specialized knowledge. The floor is open to scientists!” But then there was a deafening silence. Not a single newspaper‚ neither French‚ nor British‚ nor any other‚ wrote a single line about this sensational discovery. Researchers rummaged through all possible newspaper archives of those times and later‚ but nowhere else was there any mention of giant human bones from Vimoutier. But articles were published about similar finds of giant human bones‚ but in other places in France. According to the London Globe‚ in June 1890‚ a Monsieur Lapouge discovered fragments of human bones of “the most abnormal size” in a prehistoric cemetery at Castelnau‚ near Montpellier‚ in the south of France. Lapouge calculated that the bones belonged to a man 3.3 meters tall (11 feet) – that is‚ a real giant. It was also indicated that since ancient times the entire Castelnau valley was called by the villagers the place where the “cave of giants” is located. Photo of giant human bones from Castelnau from Popular Science News. 1890 Lapouge published an article and photos of his findings in the French periodical La Nature. From there‚ the story of the “Giants of Castelnau” found its way into many newspapers and magazines around the world‚ including the New York Times and Popular Science News. And‚ traditionally‚ this was also the last mention in the press about these strange finds. Then no one wrote or mentioned them anymore. In 1894‚ newspapers reported that workers excavating at a reservoir in Montpellier had found “a set of human skulls of gigantic proportions” that measured 28‚ 31 and 32 inches in girth. The circumference of the average adult male’s skull is 22.5 inches. “These relics were sent to the Paris Academy‚ and one scientist said that they belonged to a race of people from 3 to 4.5 meters in height‚” the newspapers wrote. This place seemed to be close to where Monsieur Lapouge was digging. In any case‚ this is the same area of ​​Montpellier. Maybe both bones are connected with the very cave of the giants‚ about which the inhabitants of the Castelnau Valley formed legends? As the reader can easily guess‚ there is currently no information about these skulls either. Did they end up in the Paris Academy and were unknowingly hidden somewhere in the storerooms? Or are they deliberately hidden forever from the eyes of all outsiders? The post The mystery of giant human bones found in France appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Swedish researcher Beatriz Villarroel from Stockholm University‚ together with an international team of scientists‚ discovered mysterious objects in astronomical images stored since the 1950s that have never been explained. It all started with a careful analysis of old astronomical photographs‚ in which Villarroel discovered something unusual: objects resembling artificial satellites‚ sparkling brightly in the sky and disappearing too quickly. She argues that such objects should not have appeared in images until 1957‚ when the first space shuttle was launched. Villarroel’s latest research‚ published in the scientific journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society‚ reveals three mysterious objects photographed in 1952 by the Palomar Observatory. These objects suddenly appeared in photographs and disappeared after 50 minutes‚ leaving scientists completely bewildered. The article discusses two versions that explain this phenomenon. According to the first version‚ these are three independent objects located in the inner part of the solar system or even in Earth orbit. The three sources are absent in all subsequent exposures of this region during 71 yr‚ including the POSS blue-sensitive image taken immediately after this exposure. According to the second version‚ the brief flash of light was caused by the gravitational lens of a massive object between them and the Earth. But the cause of the flare and the nature of the resulting gravitational lens remain a mystery. Equally surprising‚ the date of the shooting (July 19‚ 1952) is known to many in connection with the sighting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the skies over Washington‚ including the White House and the Capitol. This case attracted the attention of the American press‚ even worrying US President Harry Truman and the CIA. Another work by Villarroel describes nine light sources captured in photographs of the starry sky in April 1950. These objects appeared and disappeared within 30 minutes‚ adding even more mystery to what was happening. “I think it’s very important to do this kind of [nearby] searching for extraterrestrial objects because the [astronomical] community mostly looks for things very‚ very far away. I think it’s time to do something new‚” says Villarroel‚ who is now working to establish the ExoProbe project to look for anomalous objects among the vast number of human satellites currently in orbit. The post Mysterious objects have been observed near the solar system appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Following a huge wave of layoffs at League of Legends and Valorant creator Riot Games‚ the company's spinoff developer Riot Forge has officially been shuttered‚ meaning no more LoL-inspired indies will be coming after Bandle Tale. Continue reading Riot Forge is officially over‚ no more League of Legends stories MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends Season 14‚ League of Legends patch 13.23‚ League of Legends tier list

Command and Conquer needs to make a comeback. Particularly the first two games‚ Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert‚ remain classics of PC gaming. They look great‚ they sound great. They practically invented the modern RTS genre. To this day‚ whenever I’m folding laundry or doing some work around the house‚ I get Frank Klepacki’s ‘Act on Instinct’ in my head. I tuck a t-shirt into the drawer and automatically hear the ping: “Unit ready.” Nevertheless‚ Command and Conquer is currently AWOL. Thank Kane‚ then‚ for a huge new real-time strategy game about to make its multiplayer beta debut. Mixing Westwood Studios’ all-time classic with the impressive visuals and huge depth of units you’d find in War Thunder‚ if you love Command and Conquer‚ or want an alternative to the likes of Age of Empires and Total War‚ this is for you. Continue reading Command and Conquer meets War Thunder as new RTS game launches beta

January 23‚ 2024‚ 03:15 PT: ToastedShoes has provided PCGamesN with a comment‚ which you can read below The Palworld modding community is already in disarray thanks to Pokemon mods‚ with Nintendo copyright striking videos‚ and modders themselves distancing projects containing Nintendo IPs. Continue reading Palworld mods rush to avoid Nintendo as the Pokemon takedowns start MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld pals‚ Palworld review‚ Palworld system requirements

Washington could deal the app a serious blow within a matter of days.

A recent decision to block the merger of JetBlue and Spirit is a case study in the abuse of our antiquated antitrust regulations that hurt consumers more than they help.