Over a series of studies researchers found that watching television, scrolling on smartphones and playing video games after work might “buffer” the effect of stress in chaotic households — helping people feel more relaxed at home, and therefore, aid in their recovery from the day’s stressors.

In a paper published in Polymer Science & Technology, an international team of scientists developed a multifunctional conductive hydrogel (P-EPL/CCT) hydrogel flexible sensor using a physical-chemical dual cross-linking approach involving poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), gallic acid grafted chitosan (CS−GA), tannic acid (TA), eggshell membrane (ESM), lysozyme, and 4am-PEG-MAL for emergency cooling and wound healing following fire-works-related skin burns. The organohydrogel sensor exhibits impressive mechanical properties, such as a maximum stress of 2.15 MPa and an elongation of 605%, along with antifreeze resistance down to −39.5 °C, antimicrobial properties with bacterial inhibition exceeding 96.5%, and cytocompatibility. Additionally, serving as strain sensor with high sensitivity (GF = 1.14 at 100% strain) and rapid response times, it can effectively monitor human movement signals. The developed organohydrogel demonstrates the ability to accelerate skin healing, promote angiogenesis, and reduce scarring. Moreover, it is utilized for monitoring finger joint injuries and employing machine learning-assisted electrical signals for intelligent wound healing monitoring and protection. This study introduces a flexible device that combines multiple functionalities, showing promise for diverse applications in the biomedical field. This study is led by Chuang Du (Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China), Weiwei Liu (Stomatological Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China) and Lei Wang (Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China).

Rapid urbanization is reshaping how people live and how societies function. By the middle of this century, nearly 70% of the global population is expected to live in cities, making urban environments one of the most important determinants of public health—particularly mental health. This challenge is the focus of a recent expert position paper co-authored by researchers affiliated with Wroclaw Medical University and developed under the umbrella of the European Psychiatric Association.

The authors highlight that city living is associated with a range of risk factors that can negatively affect mental well-being. These include chronic exposure to noise, air and light pollution, overcrowding, social inequalities, poverty, and—paradoxically—social isolation and loneliness in densely populated areas. Together, these factors may increase the risk of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and suicidal behavior.