Little things, like taking a shortcut through the park on your way to work each day can make a big difference

to your mental health. Find your little big thing

little big thing at every mind matters. This is Scientific American 60 Second Science. I'm Suzanne Bard.

Blood donations save lives, but blood can only be stored under refrigeration for up to six weeks.

After that, it's no longer usable for transfusions.

Because of that limitation, people have to continually donate blood to meet the needs but also in places where refrigeration may not be available.

That can also be a challenge. It's difficult to have blood available when needed.

University of Louisville Bioengineer Jonathan Copacek.

He says disruptions to regular blood donations due to COVID-19

have put stress on the blood supply and the pandemic

underscores the need for more reliable long-term storage methods. Blood can be

frozen for extended periods of time.

But it's pretty rare because of all the challenges and complexities

with that process.

Instead, Kobachek's team has developed a method of preserving

blood so it can be stored in a dehydrated state at room

temperature. To do so they turn to an unusual preservative a sugar called

Trehalos which is a common ingredient in donuts.

To help make them look fresh even when they might be months old

and you wouldn't know the difference.

The researchers chose Trehalos because in nature,

it's made by hardy animals like tardigrades and sea monkeys

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