Google Doodle Honors 'Prince of Mathematicians,' Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 394 words
| Patria Henriques
The Google Doodle today (April 30) commemorates the math and science achievements of Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss, widely known as the "prince of mathematicians," on what would have been his 241st birthday.
Born in Germany in 1777, Gauss was recognized as a math prodigy when he was still a young boy; he earned acclaim for the swiftness of his numerical calculations, and later made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of number theory and algebra.
[Read More]High-Tech 'Smart' Cane Helps Blind People Recognize Faces
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 317 words
| Patria Henriques
A new, high-tech cane for the blind is designed to recognize the faces of the person's friends and family members.
Using smartphone technology, the device — known as the "XploR" mobility cane — can identify faces from up to about 33 feet (10 meters) away, researchers say.
If the cane recognizes someone, it alerts a visually impaired user by vibrating and transmitting a sound signal. The cane is also equipped with GPS to help the user navigate.
[Read More]How Do Vaccines Work?
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 344 words
| Fernande Dalal
Vaccines are like a training course for the immune system. They prepare the body to fight disease without exposing it to disease symptoms.
When foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses enter the body, immune cells called lymphocytes respond by producing antibodies, which are protein molecules. These antibodies fight the invader known as an antigen and protect against further infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a healthy individual can produce millions of antibodies a day, fighting infection so efficiently that people never even know they were exposed to an antigen.
[Read More]In Photos: Cave Insects With Sex-Reversed Genitals
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 380 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Cave Insects CopulatingFemales with penislike genitals and males with vaginalike organs are cases of a new extreme reversal of sex roles researchers have discovered in little-known cave insects. These are the first examples of animals with genitalia that reverse the traditional sex roles.
Female PenisThe researchers were astonished to discover that the females of four Neotrogla species from extremely dry Brazlian caves had penislike genitals dubbed gynosomes, a complex organ composed of muscles, ducts, membranes and spikes.
[Read More]Man Develops Rare Reaction to Spider Bite
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 384 words
| Arica Deslauriers
The strange rash a man in southern France developed on his arm, torso and thighs turned out to be a serious reaction to a spider bite from 10 days before, according to a new report of his case.
The 66-year-old patient first went to the hospital in Nice two days after his spider bite when he developed a fever and suffered from fatigue and lack of appetite. But doctors didn't find anything unusual when examining him, nor did they find the black, necrotic skin lesions typically seen in spider bites.
[Read More]Mummy of Forgotten Pharaoh Discovered in Ruined Egypt Tomb
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 3 minutes
| 622 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
An unknown pharaoh named Woseribre Senebkay has been unearthed in southern Egypt.
The rediscovered king's mummy was found in pieces in a pile of debris, ripped apart by tomb robbers. However, University of Pennsylvania archaeologist Josef Wegner, doctoral student Kevin Chahail and their colleagues were able to piece together the royal skeleton. They found that Senebkay was 5 feet, 10 inches (1.75 meters) tall and was in his mid- to late-40s when he died.
[Read More]New Electric Bus Can Travel 350 Miles on Single Charge
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 3 minutes
| 483 words
| Arica Deslauriers
A new electric, zero-emission vehicle has an impressive range: The city bus can travel 350 miles (560 kilometers) on a single charge, potentially being able to complete a full day's work without needing to be recharged.
Set for release next year from the startup Proterra, the Catalyst E2 Series electric vehicle debuted last week at the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. Proterra named the new bus for its unprecedented battery, which can store up to 660 kWh.
[Read More]Penis Enlargement Products Come up Short
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 5 minutes
| 946 words
| Trudie Dory
You were perhaps tempted to click but then recoiled with the thought of the five years' worth of pop-up ads you'd inevitably encounter. Smart move. For the health of your computer and your body, it's best to ignore the penis enlargement spam.
Simply put, there is no safe way to enlarge one's penis; and for the vast majority of men, there is no reason to do so.
While breast enhancement surgery is relatively safe, penis enlargement surgery is so dicey that there's a very good chance a man will lose sensation or the ability to have an erection.
[Read More]Science Experiments for Kids
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 5 minutes
| 992 words
| Trudie Dory
Children are natural scientists. Their curiosity is boundless, and with a little supervision during these easy science experiments, even very young children can do “real science.”
Many parents and caregivers wish to encourage children to investigate the world, but are unsure about their own ability to introduce science skills. It doesn’t need to be hard! Participate and play with your child; it can be a lot of fun for both of you.
[Read More]Seismic Shift? As Bahamas Sink, One Island Mysteriously Rises
Posted on March 31, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 360 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
All the islands in the Bahamas were thought to be slowly sinking, but now scientists find one quirky isle going against the crowd.
This anomaly suggests the area may be less seismically stable than previously thought.
Scientists focused on the small island of Mayaguana in the southeast Bahamas , which measures about 33 by 7 miles (53 by 12 kilometers). They noticed shallow banks of rocks called marine carbonates above ground that are usually present dozens of feet below the surface on the other Bahamian islands .
[Read More]