Elementary, My Dear: 8 Elements You Never Heard Of

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  5 minutes  |  916 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Elementary, My dearUnless you're a real science geek, chances are you never knew these eight elements even existed. Nonetheless, many of them form the foundations of modern life, from europium (a critical element in television and computer screens) to tellurium (used in solar panels and memory chips). Here's a sample of little-known but important elements you'd rather not live without. EuropiumNext time you're traveling through Europe, take note of some euro paper banknotes. [Read More]

Israeli Scientists Say They'll Have Cure for Cancer Within a Year. Here's Why That's Highly Unlikely

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  774 words  |  Patria Henriques

Scientists at an Israeli biotech company say that they believe they will have a cure for cancer within a year, but experts contacted by Live Science say that's highly unlikely. The scientists, from Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (AEBi), told The Jerusalem Post on Jan. 28 that they "believe [they] will offer, in a year's time, a complete cure for cancer." But AEBi has not published its findings; instead, the public learned of the claims in the Jerusalem Post article. [Read More]

Oldest Copy of 'Mona Lisa' Painted Alongside Original

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  2 minutes  |  399 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

A copy of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was painted by a pupil or follower of the artist at about the same time as the original was created, and is now considered the oldest known copy of the enigmatic piece of work, scientists announced this week. The painting was previously held in the Spanish royal collections, before it was sent to Madrid in 1819 when the Museo del Prado there was founded. [Read More]

Organic Foods No More Nutritious, Safe than Conventional, Study Says

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  703 words  |  Patria Henriques

Organic foods are no more nutritious than conventionally grown foods, and no less likely to be contaminated with certain bacteria, according to a new review of studies. However, organics were less likely to contain pesticide residues, or harbor bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics, compared with conventional alternatives, the study found. Though farming practices vary, organic plants are generally grown without the use of pesticides or industrial fertilizers, and organically raised animals are not routinely treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. [Read More]

Pet Dog with Plague Exposed More Than 100 Veterinary Workers to the Disease

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  714 words  |  Fernande Dalal

A sick dog in Colorado caused alarm at a veterinary hospital when doctors realized the animal was infected with a rare and deadly illness: the plague. What's more, the dog had contact with more than 100 people before its illness was discovered, potentially exposing them to the serious infection, according to a new report about the case. The 3-year-old dog developed a fever and was acting lethargic in December 2017, prompting its owner to take the animal to the vet, where it was treated with antibiotics. [Read More]

Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy May Harm Mom and Baby

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  477 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Women who experience sleep apnea during pregnancy may face an increased of risk of health problems, for both themselves and their newborns, a new study suggests. In the study, babies born to women with obstructive sleep apnea were more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit than babies born to women without the condition. All of the women in the study were obese. In addition, the women with sleep apnea were more likely to develop preeclampsia, a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy, and to deliver their babies by cesarean section. [Read More]

Splat Science: Fossilized Raindrops Reveal Early Earth's Hazy Skies

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  518 words  |  Patria Henriques

It was raining 2.7 billion years ago. That's according to imprints of raindrops discovered in ancient rock in South Africa. Those same weather marks are giving researchers a clearer picture of what Earth's early atmosphere was like. Back then, the sun was about 30 percent dimmer, giving off less heat, which suggests our planet should have frozen over. As for why it didn't, and why rocks show evidence of abundant water as far back as 4 billion years, scientists have suggested a much thicker atmosphere, high concentrations of greenhouse gases, or a combination of the two kept early Earth toasty. [Read More]

This Man's 'Pancake' Kidney Looks Like It Sounds

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  536 words  |  Patria Henriques

When an 18-year-old man in India went to the emergency room for intestinal problems, doctors ordered a computed tomography (CT) scan to get a clear look at the issue. But the scan revealed something completely unrelated to the man's gut problems: He had a rarely encountered condition called "pancake kidney," according to a recent report of his case. The "extraordinarily rare" condition is almost exactly what it sounds like, said Dr. [Read More]

What's That Word? Marijuana May Affect Verbal Memory

 Posted on November 29, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  566 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Years of smoking pot may have an effect on a person's verbal memory, which is the ability to remember certain words, a new study finds. For every five years of marijuana use, researchers found that, on average, one out of two people remembered one word fewer from a list of 15 words, according to the study. Long-term use was not, however, significantly associated with decreases in other measures of cognitive function, such as processing speed or executive function, the researchers wrote in the study, published today (Feb. [Read More]

'Lost' chameleon rediscovered after a century in hiding. And it's spectacular.

 Posted on November 28, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  649 words  |  Patria Henriques

More than a century after it was last seen, a spectacularly colorful chameleon is back.  Conservationists announced the rediscovery of the Voeltzkow's chameleon (Furcifer voeltzkowi) on Oct. 30 in the journal Salamandra. The animal, endemic to Madagascar, was last seen in 1913 — and until now, no one had ever seen a female Voeltzkow's chameleon. The females turn out to be a striking sight. They can change colors, and at their most brilliant display a pattern of red dots and a streak of purple against a background of black and white. [Read More]