Are the healing powers of chicken soup real?

+ better process and material for recycling plastics; AI and search US Edition - Today's top story: Does chicken soup really help when you're sick? A nutrition specialist explains what's behind the beloved comfort food [View in browser]( US Edition | 20 October 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [What Kaiser Permanente workers got after strike]( - [New memorial for victims of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire]( - [It’s been a busy news week. Test your knowledge with our quiz]( Lead story It’s hard to beat the splendor of autumn in Colorado – the rich burnt oranges and fiery reds of maple trees and the glistening golden shades of aspen. But unfortunately, this time of year also kicks off cold and flu season, and for many of us – including me – the reminder that COVID-19 is still very much a part of our lives. This means that, along with the pumpkins and spice and everything nice, many of us are reaching for warm, soothing comfort foods like chicken noodle soup. As a vegetarian, I’m more likely to crave grilled cheese and tomato soup when I’m down and out. But it turns out that cultures around the world have been relying on variations of chicken soup to soothe their ailments for millennia. So our editorial team wondered: What’s behind the belief that chicken soup is comfort food for the soul? And does it really make us feel better, or is that all in our heads? We asked Colby Teeman, a dietician at the University of Dayton, to parse [the science behind chicken soup’s goodness for the soul](. Teeman explains the way that chicken soup’s umami taste appeals to the senses and how the soup can help spur a diminished appetite and even assist with bringing down inflammation that leads to congestion, sneezing and coughing. As Teeman concludes: “Grandma was right again.” [ [Get our Understanding AI series – four emails delivered over the course of a week, with experts explaining this confusing topic.]( ] Amanda Mascarelli Senior Health and Medicine Editor A bowl of chicken soup typically contains protein, vegetables and soothing broth. Westend61 via Getty Images [Does chicken soup really help when you’re sick? A nutrition specialist explains what’s behind the beloved comfort food]( Colby Teeman, University of Dayton Grandma swore by it. Now science weighs in on the healing powers of chicken soup. Science + Technology - [New class of recyclable polymer materials could one day help reduce single-use plastic waste]( Katherine Harry, Colorado State University; Emma Rettner, Colorado State University A team of scientists has developed a method for creating a new class of plastic materials that are potentially more recyclable than single-use plastics. - [Quantum dots − a new Nobel laureate describes the development of these nanoparticles from basic research to industry application]( Louis Brus, Columbia University Louis Brus explains some of the foundational research – and how even the letter carrier wants to shake your hand when you’ve just won a Nobel Prize. Economy + Business - [Why Google, Bing and other search engines’ embrace of generative AI threatens $68 billion SEO industry]( Ravi Sen, Texas A&M University Search engines run by generative AI could fundamentally change the online ecosystem. Ethics + Religion - [A memorial in Yiddish, Italian and English tells the stories of Triangle Shirtwaist fire victims − testament not only to tragedy but to immigrant women’s fight to remake labor laws]( Karla Goldman, University of Michigan On Oct. 11, 2023, a new memorial was unveiled at the site of the 1911 fire. A cadre of young Jewish women helped push for change in the wake of the tragedy. Health + Medicine - [Health care workers gain 21% wage increase in pending agreement with Kaiser Permanente after historic strike]( Michael McQuarrie, Arizona State University Beyond higher wages and improved benefits, the terms of the Kaiser settlement would ensure better staffing, which the unions have argued is critical for providing quality patient care. - [Will we still have antibiotics in 50 years? We asked 7 global experts]( André O. Hudson, Rochester Institute of Technology; Fidelma Fitzpatrick, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Juliana Côrrea, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo da Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV/EAESP); Lori L. Burrows, McMaster University; Raúl Rivas González, Universidad de Salamanca; Roy Robins-Browne, The University of Melbourne; Yori Yuliandra, Universitas Andalas We asked 7 global experts in microbiology and biochemistry if we are headed towards a future with no antimicrobial agents. International - [New research helps explain why Indian girls appear to be less engaged in politics than Indian boys]( Sara Wilf A survey of over 600 teens and young adults across India found boys are more politically engaged than girls and also less aware of the barriers women face to becoming active in politics. - [Slow solutions to fast-moving ecological crises won’t work – changing basic human behaviors must come first]( Mike Joy, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Phoebe Barnard, University of Washington Ecological overshoot is driven by human consumption and a belief in endless economic growth. Could the marketing and media industries that feed those habits also help change them? Politics + Society - [How morbid curiosity can lead people to conspiracy theories]( Joe Stubbersfield, University of Winchester; Coltan Scrivner, Arizona State University The answers lie in early human evolution. Environment + Energy - [Billions of birds collide with glass buildings – but architecture has solutions]( Paul Dobraszczyk, UCL By adding stickers to glass walls and dimming lights, cities can be safer places for migrating birds. Trending on site - [Saudi plans to ‘de-risk’ region have taken a hit with Gaza violence − but hitting pause on normalization with Israel will buy kingdom time]( - [House speaker paralysis is confusing – a political scientist explains what’s happening]( - [New technique uses near-miss particle physics to peer into quantum world − two physicists explain how they are measuring wobbling tau particles]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- A tip of the quiz cap to professor Barry Markovsky for last week's excellent Friday the 13th quiz! Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( The war between Israel and Hamas is centered in and around the Gaza Strip. Do you know which body of water borders Gaza? - A. Jordan River - B. Gulf of Aqaba - C. Mediterranean Sea - D. Dead Sea [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](