Colorful secrets of chemical elements with slow motion flames
If you are a “Game of Thrones” series fan like I am, upon looking at the picture of green flame you might think: wildfire. Although you don’t find green-colored fire often in real life, it is possible to make the fire green with a disinfectant or insecticide containing boric acid. So sorry fellow GoT fans, green […]
A new way to fight climate change: Trap carbon dioxide in volcanic rocks
Climate change refers to the fluctuation of the climate system caused by the energy entering and leaving Earth. The greenhouse effect, which refers to how greenhouse gases (GHGs) act like a blanket and prevent the loss of Earth’s heat to space, has occurred naturally throughout Earth’s history. However, since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have […]
Your microbes might decide how much you weigh
Microbes—usually bacteria, fungi, or protists—made a big splash of news when the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced the new National Microbiome Initiative (NMI) last month. The NMI’s aim is to advance the understanding of microbiome, which refers to all the microbes in a particular environment. The initiative particularly focuses on restoring […]
Operation Pangea targets unlawful internet sales of illegal prescription drugs
The FDA along with several international regulatory and law enforcement agencies took action this week against over 4,000 websites that were illegally selling dangerous and unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers. This effort was part of an Operation called Pangea IX which was a global cooperative effort that included INTERPOL to stop the unlawful sale and distribution of illegal and potentially counterfeit medical […]
Green light reduces migraine headaches
Migraine headaches, or migraines, are defined as an intense throbbing or a pulsing sensation in one area of the head, usually with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are prevalent globally, as 30% or more people worldwide who struggle with headaches report suffering from migraines. Although migraines themselves are not lethal (if […]
SpaceX’s Leaning Rocket Arrives at Cape Canaveral
The first-stage booster pictured above pushed the limits during SpaceX’s 4th successful landing last Friday with a speed that was very close to the designed maximum for the rocket and the support systems for its legs. Although the 15-story rocket was leaning on the barge and in danger of tipping over, it remained upright as it […]
Common yeast infection linked to mental illness
In a study published in online journal npj Schizophrenia, Johns Hopkins researchers found that a history of Candida yeast infections was more common in a group of subjects with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder than in those without these disorders. The researchers caution that their findings do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between mental illness and yeast infections, but […]
Tylenol and other paracetamol painkillers may hinder the brain’s error-correction mechanisms
It’s been known for more than a century that acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol and marketed as Tylenol and Panadol) is an effective painkiller, but according to a new Canadian study it could also be impeding error-detection in the brain. The research appears in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. “Past research tells us physical […]
Urgent rethink required on Earth’s carbon-sinks, suggests study
In a new study that expands our understanding of how humans contribute to global warming, scientists have discovered that human activity has changed the terrestrial biosphere to make it a significant contributor to climate change. Published in Nature, the study looked at the net balance of the three major greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, and […]
Generalized constructal law shows that evolution doesn’t apply only to biological things
A law of physics that explains why larger animals live longer and travel further can be extended to the simplest forms of mass migration on the planet – like rolling stones and turbulent eddies in water and air currents, according to new research from Duke University. “The finding demonstrates that evolution doesn’t apply only to […]