Scientists at Edith Cowan University have discovered that the gut microbiome changes with training intensity. These shifts may hold hidden clues about performance, recovery, and overall health. Credit: Shutterstock
Exercise intensity affects the gut microbiome, shifting bacteria and gut health markers. Diet and rest patterns also contribute to these changes.
Exercise is widely known to benefit both mental and physical health, but new findings from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggest that the intensity of training may also influence the gut microbiome.
PhD candidate Bronwen Charlesson conducted a study examining how different training loads, both high and low, affect athletes’ gut health. Her goal was to better understand these changes so athletes could optimize their health, wellbeing, and performance by considering the role of the microbiome.
“Based on previous research, it appears that athletes have a different gut microbiota when compared with the general population. This includes greater total short chain fatty acid concentrations, alpha diversity, an increased abundance of some bacteria and a lower abundance of others,” she explained.
Charlesson added that the distinction between athletes’ microbiomes and those of non-athletes could be influenced by dietary habits, but fitness indicators such as oxygen uptake have also been linked to these differences.
Training load and bacterial shifts
Her research demonstrated that training intensity directly affected gut health markers in athletes. Variations were observed in short-chain fatty acid levels and in the populations of specific bacteria.
Although not formally measured in this study, Charlesson pointed to elevated blood lactate from high-intensity exercise as a possible contributor. Lactate produced in the muscles is transported to the gut for metabolism, which may promote the growth of certain bacterial species.
Ms Charlesson noted that the changes found in the gut biome when comparing high training loads to low training loads, were also related to diet.
Diet changes during rest periods
“During low training load times, or periods of rest, athletes are often more relaxed about their diets, in this study we saw no change in total carbohydrate or fiber intake during periods of rest, but we did observe a decline in the diet quality of food eaten. This decline was related to increases in processed fast foods, decreases in fresh fruit and vegetables, and a moderate increase in alcohol intake. These changes did impact the composition of the gut microbiome.
“Another observation made during the research was the significant slowing of gut transit times in athletes during low training loads. That slowing of transit time during the low training load appears to also be impacting the gut microbiome for an athlete.”
Ms Charlesson explained that while it’s still unclear exactly how the gut influences athletic performance, there are some promising clues. For example, the gut may play a role in lactate metabolism and regulating pH levels, both of which could impact performance and overall athlete health. However, more research is needed, particularly into factors like training load, diet quality, and gut transit time, to better understand how these elements can be adjusted to enhance athletic performance.
Reference: “Training load influences gut microbiome of highly trained rowing athletes” by B. Charlesson, J. Jones, C. Abbiss, P. Peeling, S. Watts and C.T. Christophersen, 21 May 2025, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2025.2507952
The twisting direction of metal nanoparticles is controlled to be right- or left-handed by adding chiral molecules, which are adsorbed onto the particle surface, during the electrochemical reduction of metal ions. Credit: Korea University and Seoul National University
Researchers in South Korea have created magnetic nanohelices that can control electron spin at room temperature.
Spintronics, also called spin electronics, explores information processing by using the intrinsic angular momentum (spin) of electrons rather than only their electric charge. By tapping spin, researchers aim to build data storage and logic devices that operate faster and consume less energy. A major obstacle has been creating materials that can precisely and reliably set the direction of electron spin.
In a significant step for spin nanotechnology, researchers led by Professor Young Keun Kim of Korea University and Professor Ki Tae Nam of Seoul National University have created magnetic nanohelices that control electron spin. The approach uses chiral magnetic materials to regulate spin at room temperature, and the findings have been published in Science.
“These nanohelices achieve spin polarization exceeding ~80% — just by their geometry and magnetism,” stated Professor Young Keun Kim of Korea University, a co-corresponding author of the study. He further emphasized, “This is a rare combination of structural chirality and intrinsic ferromagnetism, enabling spin filtering at room temperature without complex magnetic circuitry or cryogenics, and provides a new way to engineer electron behavior using structural design.”
Engineering Chirality at the Nanoscale
The research team successfully fabricated left- and right-handed chiral magnetic nanohelices by electrochemically controlling the metal crystallization process. A critical innovation involved introducing trace amounts of chiral organic molecules, such as cinchonine or cinchonidine, which guided the formation of helices with precisely defined handedness—a feat rarely achieved in inorganic systems.
Also, the team experimentally demonstrated that when these nanohelices exhibit a right-handedness, they preferentially allow one direction of spin to pass, while the opposite spin cannot. The above marks the discovery of a 3D inorganic helical nanostructure capable of electron spin control.
“Chirality is well-understood in organic molecules, where the handedness of a structure often determines its biological or chemical function,” noted Professor Ki Tae Nam of Seoul National University, also a co-corresponding author. “But in metals and inorganic materials, controlling chirality during synthesis is extremely difficult, especially at the nanoscale. The fact that we could program the direction of inorganic helices simply by adding chiral molecules is a breakthrough in materials chemistry.”
Measuring and Applying Spin Control
To confirm the chirality of nanohelices, the researchers developed an electromotive force (emf)-based chirality evaluation method and measured the emf generated by the helices under rotating magnetic fields. The left- and right-handed helices produced opposite emf signals, allowing for quantitative verification of chirality even in materials that do not strongly interact with light.
The research team also found that the magnetic material itself, through its inherent magnetization (spin alignment), enables long-distance spin transport at room temperature. This effect, maintained by strong exchange energy, is constant regardless of the angle between the chiral axis and the spin injection direction, and was not observed in non-magnetic nanohelices of the same scale. The above marks the first measurement of asymmetric spin transport in a relatively macro-scaled chiral body. The team also demonstrated a solid-state device that showed chirality-dependent conduction signals, paving the way for practical spintronic applications.
Professor Kim highlighted the potential impact: “We believe this system could become a platform for chiral spintronics and architecture of chiral magnetic nanostructures”. This work represents a powerful convergence of geometry, magnetism, and spin transport, built from scalable, inorganic materials. The ability to control the handedness (left/right) and even the number of strands (double, multiple helices) using this versatile electrochemical method is expected to contribute significantly to new application areas.
Reference: “Spin-selective transport through chiral ferromagnetic nanohelices” by Yoo Sang Jeon, Eunjin Jeong, Sang Won Im, Min Jun Ko, Jin Seo Lee, Jun Hwan Moon, Min Hyeok Lee, Jeong Kyu Lee, Sung Jong Yoo, Ki Tae Nam and Young Keun Kim, 4 September 2025, Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.adx5963
Physicists have long wondered whether matter can spontaneously emerge from nothing, a process known as the Schwinger effect. Though the original idea required impossibly high electric fields, researchers at the University of British Columbia have now proposed a striking analog: using superfluid helium films to generate vortex pairs from a flowing “frictionless vacuum.” Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Superfluid helium reveals a manageable analog to the Schwinger effect. It deepens understanding of vortices and quantum tunneling.
In 1951, physicist Julian Schwinger proposed that applying a constant electric field to a vacuum could cause electron-positron pairs to emerge spontaneously, a process known as quantum tunneling.
Why can’t this matter from nothing idea power Star Trek replicators or transporters? The electric fields required would be extraordinarily large, well beyond the reach of any direct laboratory experiment.
Because of this limitation, the phenomenon, known as the Schwinger effect, has never been directly observed.
Superfluid helium as an experimental analog
Physicists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have now outlined a related effect in a system that is easier to study. In their approach, a thin layer of superfluid helium replaces the vacuum, while the flowing motion of the superfluid takes the role of the immense electric field.
“Superfluid Helium-4 is a wonder. At a few atomic layers thick, it can be cooled very easily to a temperature where it’s basically in a frictionless vacuum state,” explains Dr. Philip Stamp, a theorist at UBC working on condensed matter and quantum gravity, whose new findings appeared in PNAS on 1 September 2025.
“When we make that frictionless vacuum flow, instead of electron-positron pairs appearing, vortex/anti-vortex pairs will appear spontaneously, spinning in opposite directions to one another.”
Mapping out the theory and experiments
In the paper, Dr. Stamp and UBC colleague Michael Desrochers outline the theory and the mathematics behind it—mapping out a detailed approach to conducting a direct experiment.
Vacuum tunneling is a process of keen interest in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. In quantum theory, vacuums aren’t empty, they’re filled with fluctuating fields that can lead to the temporary appearance and disappearance of virtual particles.
“We believe the Helium-4 film provides a nice analog to several cosmic phenomena,” adds Dr. Stamp. “The vacuum in deep space, quantum black holes, even the very beginning of the Universe itself. And these are phenomena we can’t ever approach in any direct experimental way.”
Beyond analogs and into superfluid physics
However, Dr. Stamp emphasizes that the real interest of the work may lie less in an analogs – which always have limitations – and more in the way it alters our understanding of superfluids, and of phase transitions in two-dimensional systems.
“These are real physical systems in their own right, not analogs. And we can do experiments on these.”
At the mathematical level, the researchers needed several breakthroughs to make the theory work. For example, previous researchers looking at vortices in superfluids have treated the vortex mass as an unchanging constant. Dr. Stamp and Desrochers showed that this mass will vary dramatically as the vortices move, fundamentally changing our understanding of vortices in both fluids and the early universe.
“It’s exciting to understand how and why the mass varies, and how this affects our understanding of quantum tunnelling processes, which are ubiquitous in physics, chemistry, and biology,” says Desrochers.
Stamp also argues that the same mass variability will occur with electron-positron pairs in the Schwinger effect, thereby modifying Schwinger’s theory, in a kind of ‘revenge of the analog’.
Reference: “Vacuum tunneling of vortices in two-dimensional 4He superfluid films” by M. J. Desrochers, D. J. J. Marchand and P. C. E. Stamp, 2 September 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2421273122
The work was supported by the National Science and Engineering Research Council.
Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – The Ministry of Culture of Peru, in collaboration with archaeologists from the Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC), has announced the archaeological findings from 18 years of dedicated research, conservation, and dissemination efforts at the ancient site of the agricultural city, Vichama, located in the Végueta district, Huaura province.
Image credit: Peru Ministry of Culture
Vichama was a historical site associated with the Caral civilization (also known as the Caral-Supe civilization), one of the earliest known civilizations in history.
The extensive work of all engaged archaeologists and researchers aims to preserve the rich history and cultural heritage of the site and the entire country.
One of the most significant discoveries at the Vichama site is a dual representation of toads crafted from uncooked clay.
This Andean symbol is associated with the arrival of the rainy season, water availability, and the renewal of life. This imagery complements the mural reliefs found at Vichama, which depict stories of scarcity and hope amidst environmental challenges brought about by climate change experienced by the Caral civilization.
In ancient Andean cultures, the toad was a significant symbol representing water, essential for agriculture, and the natural cycle of rebirth. These figures often played a crucial role in ceremonies that attempt to invoke rain and rejuvenate farmland after periods of drought.
Image credit: Peru Ministry of Culture
The team also unearthed two models of uncooked clay that represent buildings of Vichama, evidence of the society’s technical knowledge and urban planning skills. Additionally, the models could represent prototypes of structures planned for construction or serve as part of rituals.
Researchers have discovered fragments of friezes that were integral to significant mural compositions, offering insights into the artistic and symbolic expressions crafted by the city’s inhabitants. This advanced society’s legacy serves an essential purpose: it acts as a cautionary message to future generations about the potential impacts of climate change.
Dr. Shady Solís recalled the fascinating discoveries made in previous years at the Main Building (Sector A). One of them was the monumental composition known as “The Dance of Death and Life,” featuring 34 mural reliefs depicting deceased adult bodies with distinct ribs and closed eyes, accompanied by youthful figures engaged in a ritual dance alongside two large fish.
This captivating artwork offers profound insights into ancient cultural expressions. Furthermore, at a later stage within the same building, an intriguing toad face was modeled on a wall, emerging with human hands and accompanied by a geometric, lightning-shaped figure called the Humanized Sage.
The Caral civilization flourished from about 3500 to 1800 BCE and is regarded as the earliest known civilization in the Americas. Its advancements in architecture, social organization, and ritual practice far exceeded many of its contemporaries.
As part of this network, Vichama demonstrates how early societies consciously built cities and used symbolic art to strengthen their communities during times of crisis.
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Some admired and called him a hero, but some said he was a brutal bandit and cold-blooded murderer. His charisma, extraordinary leadership skills, and courage gave him legendary status, and there is no doubt he made an impression on those he met.
Nevertheless, certain parts of his life are still shrouded in mystery, and Pancho Villa’s story fascinates the modern world.
No one really knows how everything started, and there is conflicting information about Pacho Villa’s early life. Still, it seems sad and tragic events forced Pancho Villa to take matters into his own hands and fight for justice. Like everyone, Pancho Villa had a choice, so he sought revenge on those who had caused him pain in his early life.
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Puff adders, one of Africa’s most widespread snakes, could be agricultural heroes in disguise. Credit: Graham Alexander/Wits University
Puff adders control rodents naturally, protecting crops. They could be key to sustainable agriculture.
One of Africa’s most widespread snakes may turn out to be an agricultural hero in disguise
A study led by the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, found that puff adders (Bitis arietans) are remarkably effective at suppressing rodent populations that threaten crop production across the continent.
These snakes are capable of increasing their food intake more than twelvefold during rodent population booms, a rate that surpasses many mammalian predators. This feeding flexibility positions them as a natural and highly efficient solution to widespread rodent pest problems.
“Puff adders are essentially nature’s perfect rodent control system,” says Professor Graham Alexander, who conducted the study. “Their ability to dramatically increase consumption during rodent outbreaks makes them invaluable allies for farmers facing potential crop devastation.”
Feeding efficiency and crop protection
The findings, published in Scientific Reports, show that a single puff adder can consume as many as 10 rodents in one feeding session. Within just a week, the snake is able to hunt again, offering continuous pest control at no cost to farmers. Because rodent outbreaks often coincide with high rainfall years and cause millions in agricultural losses, conserving puff adder populations could greatly reduce crop damage while limiting the need for chemical pesticides.
Puff adders, one of Africa’s most widespread snakes, could be agricultural heroes in disguise. Credit: Graham Alexander/Wits University
Key advantages over mammalian predators
Offering a compelling case for snake conservation, the research identifies several key advantages of puff adders as natural pest controllers:
Puff adders can raise their food intake far beyond basic needs, outperforming mammalian predators such as weasels and lynx.
After periods of heavy feeding, they are able to survive for up to two years without food, staying in the ecosystem as “on-call” rodent controllers.
They shift their hunting behavior to focus on rodents when populations start to rise.
They can act quickly to stop rodent numbers from escalating to plague levels.
“What’s particularly valuable about puff adders is their natural abundance in many African habitats,” says Alexander. “While an individual Puff Adder consumes much less than a fox or mongoose, their higher population abundance creates a formidable collective impact on rodent numbers.”
Measuring ingestion and reframing snakes
In conducting this research, Alexander used a new measure called “factorial scope of ingestion,” which measures how much a predator can increase its food intake above normal maintenance levels, as well as the impact that a large population of snakes might have on prey animals. By increasing their prey intake by 12 times their normal food needs during rodent blooms, a large population of snakes can have a considerable impact on keeping possible pest outbursts under control. This study challenges the traditional view of snakes as agricultural pests and reframes them as beneficial partners for sustainable farming.
“These findings demonstrate that puff adder population management should be an essential component of integrated pest management strategies,” says Alexander. “By protecting these natural controllers, we can harness their remarkable abilities to support both ecosystem health and agricultural productivity across Africa. This also highlights the need to have snakes included in conservation management plans.”
Reference: “Factorial scope of ingestion and the potential functional response of puff adders (Bitis arietans) to high prey abundance” by Graham J. Alexander, 13 May 2025, Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-99550-3
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