February 27, 2019
Good Morning,
A new study says that riding electric bikes could very well improve brain function. Hey, more power to ya!
Learn about this and more interesting stories from the scientific community in today's issue.
Until Next Time,
Erin
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*-- Electric bikes could improve brain function in older people --*
Electric bikes may give the same brain boost as pedal-powered bikes do to older people, a new study says.
Cyclists using e-bikes between ages of 50 and 83 got better cognitive and mental health benefits than on pedal bikes, according to a study published on Wednesday in PLOS.
"It is really encouraging that this research suggests older adults' cognitive function (particularly what we call executive function as well as processing speed) could be improved by cycling in the natural/urban environment, even when that was on an electrically assisted e-bike," Louise-Ann Leyland, a researcher at University College London and study author, said in a news release.
For the study, some cyclists rode the e-bikes three times a week for 30 minutes over eight weeks. Other participants rode pedal-powered bikes.
"Furthermore, we found that some aspects of mental health and well-being increased in participants, who cycled on an e-bike for an hour and a half a week for an eight-week period," Leyland said. "This suggests that there may be an impact of exercising in the environment on executive function and mental health. It would be great to see the effect of cycling, particularly e-bike use, on cognition and well-being in a larger sample of participants over a longer period of time."
The cyclists on the e-bikes spent 28 percent of their rides in the lowest setting -- eco -- and 15 percent with the motor turned off, the researchers say.
The researchers also say that riding the e-bikes, even without physical exertion, likely put the cyclists in a better mood.
"We had thought that those who used traditional, pedal-only powered bikes would have the greatest brain and mental health boost, as they would be giving their cardiovascular systems the biggest workout," said Carien Van Reekum, a professor of psychology at the University of Reading.
"Instead, people who used e-bikes told us that they felt more confident in completing the requested activity of three 30-minute rides a week for eight weeks, compared to pedal bikers. The fact that the group was able to get outside on a bike, even without much physical exertion, is likely to make people feel mentally better."
*-- Virgin Galactic carries test passenger to space for the first time --*
Virgin Galactic's space plane carried three people to the edge of space and back for the first time on Friday.
According to NASA, space begins 50 miles from Earth's surface. During Friday's test flight, VSS Unity reached an altitude of 56 miles. In December, the plane reached an apex of just more than 51 miles above Earth's surface.
In addition to spending a bit more time in suborbital space, Friday's flight featured a test passenger for the first time. Pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci were joined by Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor.
"Beth Moses, experienced zero-g float time as SpaceShipTwo reached apogee today," Virgin Galactic tweeted.
Moses is the first woman to enter space aboard a commercial vehicle.
VSS Unity is Virgin Galactic's newest version of SpaceShip Two. The company hopes the plane will soon carry tourists on brief trips to space.
The spaceplane doesn't launch from the ground. Instead, it is carried to 45,000 feet above California's Mojave Desert by the company's carrier aircraft WhiteKnight Two. VSS Unity launches midair, separating from its carrier and climbing to just beyond Earth's atmosphere at Mach 3 speeds, three times the speed of sound.
Moses' presence in the cabin allowed Virgin Galactic engineers to more closely replicate the craft's weight distribution during flights carrying the first space tourists.
"Although we passed a major milestone in December, we still have a way to go in testing the many factors that can affect a flight," the company announced in a press release prior to Friday's flight. "So, for this flight, we will be expanding the envelope to gather new and vital data essential to future tests and operations, including vehicle center of gravity."
In addition to Moses, VSS Unity also carried four experimental payloads provided by NASA. The payloads will help NASA scientists better understand the effects of microgravity on different types of liquids, gases and other materials.
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