Science

Transgender people prescribed gender affirming hormones are at significantly lower risk of depression, a new study shows. The US researchers looked at nearly 3600 transgender and non-binary patients, finding that over fifteen percent had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. After two years of followup, those who were prescribed hormones had a significantly lower risk of depressive symptoms. The researchers suggest that this happens because of the physiological changes caused by hormones, as well as reductions in gender dysphoria leading to better social functioning.

MRS. C GREN (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Cells, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition.) is an acronym I learnt at school to categorise things as living or non-living. If something does all of these it is considered alive.

My teacher told me cells are included to categorise fire as non living (as fire fulfills all other requirements).

Even after finishing school I am still annoyed by this requirement. Cells are the basic unit of life. So cells need to be alive to be cells, but you also need to have cells to be alive, in other words you need to be alive to be alive, not very useful for determining if things are living or not.

So I propose an amendment, remove C and add E - for ability to Evolve. Fire cannot evolve, but I see evolution as an essential requirement for all forms of life.

Much more elegant.

Also as a bonus, MRS. GREEN is a nicer acronym and I think its easier to remember.

Were you taught a better acronym? Or perhaps do you have an even more elegant idea?

The presence of the Asian small-clawed otter has been confirmed in Nepal for the first time in over 185 years.

Mongabay News reported that scientists and conservationists have been celebrating the sightings. The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) is the world's smallest otter. Its existence in Nepal hadn't been confirmed since 1839.

Many feared it was extinct in the area. Sightings were reported in Makalu Barun National Park over the years, but none were confirmed. In November, forestry department officials in Dadeldhura district discovered a juvenile otter. It was in a "fragile and injured state." Officials fed and cared for it, not realizing the importance of finding this critter.