linked

5Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Suicidal Thoughts In Black Adults And Children Linked To Racial Discrimination

Janelle R. Goodwill, University of Chicago Frederick Douglass is regarded as one of the most prominent abolitionists the world has ever seen. Alongside his extraordinary contributions as an influential speaker, writer and human rights advocate, Douglass – who was born into slavery and gained freedom in September 1838 – also wrote openly about his struggles with suicidal thoughts. Douglass’ writings are both revolutionary and transformative, particularly when considering that he lived during a time when several anti-literacy laws prevented enslaved Black persons from learning to read and write. Douglass published his first autobiography – “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” – in 1845. In it, he boldly shared, “I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself...

Frequent Use Of Lye-Based Hair Relaxers Linked To A Higher Risk Of Breast Cancer – 25-Year-Long Study Suggest

2Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Frequent Use Of Lye-Based Hair Relaxers Linked To A Higher Risk Of Breast Cancer – 25-Year-Long Study Suggest

Kimberly Bertrand, Boston University The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Frequent and long-term use of lye-based hair straightening products, or relaxers, may increase the risk of breast cancer among Black women, compared with more moderate use. Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study followed 59,000 self-identified African American women for over 25 years, sending questionnaires every two years on new diagnoses and factors that might influence their health. Using these data in our own study, my team of epidemiologists and I found that Black women who used hair products containing lye at least seven times a year for 15 or more years had an approximately 30% increased risk of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer compared with more i...

Linked To Preterm Births In Neighborhoods Nearby – Fatal Police Violence

19Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

IN OTHER NEWS

Linked To Preterm Births In Neighborhoods Nearby – Fatal Police Violence

Building on generations of work by activists and organizers, there is currently a national reckoning with the impacts of police violence on Black communities underway in the United States. It’s well established that killings, injuries and intense surveillance by police can traumatize not only the direct victims, but their communities. But little research has been done to assess whether police violence has spillover effects on other facets of human health. I am an epidemiologist who studies how the social and physical environment shapes maternal and infant health, and my research team and I wanted to investigate whether witnessing the police killing someone – or even living nearby or hearing about it afterward – could affect the outcome of a healthy pregnancy. Our latest research suggests ...

A First-Century Roman Tyrant Is Probably Linked To The Mark Of The Beast – But No, The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Not

7Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

IMPACT

A First-Century Roman Tyrant Is Probably Linked To The Mark Of The Beast – But No, The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Not

The mass rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has led to concerns from some people that can be described as rational: What are the side effects? How effective will the shot be? And then there are those who are worried that the vaccine will brand people with the “mark of the beast” as described in the New Testament’s Book of Revelation. A medieval tapestry, which shows John, the Dragon and the Beast of the Sea. Kimon Berlin, user:Gribeco, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA The mark of the beast – a cryptic mark in Revelation which indicates allegiance to Satan – has been invoked by fringe Christian figures throughout the pandemic in reference to what they deem to be the evil of masks and vaccines. It ranges from the seemingly metaphorical likening of vaccine passports by a Republican House representa...

New Research Finds – Staying Active Throughout Adulthood Is Linked To Lower Healthcare Costs In Later Life

2Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

Journalism, VIDEO REELS

New Research Finds – Staying Active Throughout Adulthood Is Linked To Lower Healthcare Costs In Later Life

Exercise is good for your health at every age – and you can reap the benefits no matter how late in life you start. But our latest research has shown another benefit of being physically active throughout life. We found that in the US, people who were more physically active as teenagers and throughout adulthood had lower healthcare costs. These findings are especially relevant to people who live in countries without universal healthcare, such as the US. However, our findings apply indirectly to countries with universal healthcare, such as the UK, as a healthier population could result in lower costs for the healthcare system as a whole. For our study, we drew on data from the National Cancer Institute’s study on diet and health, which looked at over half a million adults. As part of this ...

New Clean-Energy Technologies Could Be Helped By A Government-Linked Foundation

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY

New Clean-Energy Technologies Could Be Helped By A Government-Linked Foundation

To address climate change over the coming decades, all nations will need to transition to energy resources that emit less carbon. This transformation, already underway, will require many new technologies. The United States is a world leader in scientific research and technological development. But new inventions have to be brought to market and then widely adopted to have a deep impact. And in the clean energy field, the United States doesn’t do as well at making that happen as one might be expect, given its strength in basic research. The energy transition might stall if the U.S. doesn’t overcome this problem, endangering human health and the environment. Research I carried out with Jetta L. Wong, the founding director of the Office of Technology Transitions at the U.S. Department of En...

Racism linked to cognitive decline in African American women

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

HEALTH & WELLNESS, Journalism

Racism linked to cognitive decline in African American women

African Americans have higher rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than white Americans. Chronic stress, associated with cognitive impairment and reduced volume in the brain’s memory area, could be a culprit. But racism may be one of the ultimate causes. And for African American women, the problem may be particularly pernicious. We are epidemiologists at Boston University. Our work is focused on the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS), a landmark investigation that has followed 59,000 African American women since 1995. Previous data from our study showed that racism experiences are associated with increased risks of premature birth, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, uterine fibroids, adult-onset asthma and insomnia. More recently, we wanted to see how racism might impact cognition in African...