Category Archives: Current Affairs

Current Affairs

Current Affairs, Food & Drink, Science & Health

Changing Your Diet Can Add Up to 10 Years to Your Life Expectancy, New Study Shows

LAURA BROWN, THE CONVERSATION, 9 FEBRUARY 2022

A table showing the amounts of daily foods on each diet. (Laura Brown)

Everyone wants to live longer.

And we’re often told that the key to doing this is making healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising, avoiding smoking, and not drinking too much alcohol. Studies have also shown that diet can increase lifespan.

A new study has found that eating healthier could extend lifespan by six to seven years in middle-aged age adults, and in young adults, could increase lifespan by about ten years.

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The researchers brought together data from many studies that looked at diet and longevity, alongside data from the Global Burden of Disease study, which provides a summary of population health from many countries.

Source: Changing Your Diet Can Add Up to 10 Years to Your Life Expectancy, New Study Shows

Current Affairs, Games, Sports, Television

Al Michaels talks Super Bowl LVI, John Madden, Pat McAfee – Sports Illustrated

Leading up to his 11th Super Bowl on the call, and very likely his last game at NBC, the broadcaster gets deep into his craft—but he’s mum on where he’ll be practicing it next.

Jon Wertheim, Updated:Feb 3, 2022, Original:Feb 2, 2022

Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated

As lopsided NFL trades go, well, forget about Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff. In 2006—in what was largely a face-saving PR stunt—ABC allowed its lead pro football play-by-play voice, Al Michaels, to decamp to NBC in exchange for the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a precursor to Mickey Mouse created by Walt Disney in the 1920s.

Since the swap, Oswald has sat on the intellectual property equivalent of the injured list. Michaels, on the other hand, became the centerpiece for Sunday Night Football, a ratings juggernaut for NBC that, most weeks, outdraws every other show on TV.

As with any sports franchise, success has plenty of parents. The show’s director (Drew Esocoff) and executive producer (Fred Gaudelli) take back seats to no one. Same for sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, who just finished her final season. The original SNF analyst, the late John Madden, may be the GOAT, but when he was replaced in 2009 by former All-Pro receiver Cris Collinsworth, ratings remained astronomical.

Source: Al Michaels talks Super Bowl LVI, John Madden, Pat McAfee – Sports Illustrated

Current Affairs, Science & Health, Web & Technology

NASA’s JPL appoints its first female director | Engadget

By J. Fingas@jonfingas, January 29th, 2022

New JPL director Dr. Laurie Leshin. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

NASA isn’t just interested in putting more women in space.

The agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has appointed Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Dr. Laurie Leshin as its first female director.

She’ll assume the role on May 16th, replacing former director Michael Watkins (who retired in August 2021) and interim director Lt. Gen Larry James. She’ll also serve as vice president of Caltech, which manages the JPL.

Leshin has extensive experience, both in science and in breaking new ground. She has held senior positions in NASA, including a key director role at the Goddard Space Flight Center. As deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, she laid some of the groundwork for both commercial spaceflight and Artemis. She was Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s science dean, and has served as WPI’s first female president since 2014.

Source: NASA’s JPL appoints its first female director | Engadget

Current Affairs, Games, Pleasures, Television

‘Jeopardy!’: James Holzhauer Posts Hilarious Tweet – and Jab at Ken Jennings – After Amy Schneider’s Winning Streak Ends | Showbiz CheatSheet

By Melissa Mitas, Published on January 27, 2022

James Holzhauer of ‘Jeopardy!’ | David Becker/Getty Images

Amy Schneider’s record-breaking run on Jeopardy! finally came to an end on Jan. 26.

Rhone Talsma nailed the Final Jeopardy round and beat Schneider by $10,000.

During her 40-game streak, Schneider bumped former champs Matt Amodio and James Holzhauer down a notch in the consecutive wins category, where she holds the number two spot all to herself.

Holzhauer recently commented on a strong similarity between his loss and Schneider’s, while roasting Jeopardy! GOAT Ken Jennings.

Source: ‘Jeopardy!’: James Holzhauer Posts Hilarious Tweet – and Jab at Ken Jennings – After Amy Schneider’s Winning Streak Ends

Current Affairs, Love & Relationships, Science & Health

Yes, those tiny dogs descended from wolves | NBC News

Domestic dogs come in more sizes than any other mammal species. Now, researchers say a genetic mutation that emerged in wolves before they were domesticated is responsible.

While humans have several hundred genes that regulate body size, domestic dogs have just 20 body-size genes.Surapol Manee / Getty Images/ EyeEm

On appearances alone, it may be hard to believe dogs like fluffy Pomeranians or spritely Chihuahuas really are descended from wolves.

But new research both illuminates and solidifies this relationship, while providing a new explanation as to why owners are even able to pick teacup poodles and short-snouted Shih Tzus out of the pack.

Domestic dogs come in more sizes than any other mammal species on Earth. This is a result of human preference and selective breeding — but this wide range of sizes is foundationally possible because of a newly discovered genetic mutation.

This mutation corresponds to small body size and it emerged in wolves before they were domesticated.

Source: Yes, those tiny dogs descended from wolves

Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Libraries, Science & Health

Part Netflix, Part Amazon Warehouse, Libraries Adapted During Pandemic | Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii Public Libraries were among the first state agencies to physically reopen to the public after pandemic restrictions eased.

By Lee Cataluna, January 23, 2022 · 6 min read

From article…

If public libraries had been struggling for relevance in the digital age, they may have found it during the pandemic.

Libraries are often thought of as “the community living rooms” where one can browse bookshelves next to strangers, share computers and attend classes or discussions. But that function as a public gathering place became a liability with Covid-19.

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From article…

“From the beginning of the lockdown, we knew we had to find ways to continue to serve,” said Stacey Aldrich, Hawaii state librarian since 2015.

One of the first things the Hawaii State Library System did was to beef up Wi-Fi service at neighborhood branches so that people could still access the internet outside the closed library buildings.

Source: https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/01/lee-cataluna-part-netflix-part-amazon-warehouse-libraries-adapted-during-pandemic/