New UK study confirms success of HPV immunization program
The NHS launched human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program to prevent cervical cancer in England 13 years ago. Now, thanks to a study funded by Cancer Research UK, there is solid proof that this vaccination program has stopped thousands of women from experiencing pre-cancerous changes to Read More...
Study: Traditional Samoan plant works as a natural form of ibuprofen
A team of scientists has found that the leaves of the Samoan tree, matalafi, are as effective at relieving inflammation as over-the-counter ibuprofen. The small rainforest shrub, Psychotria insularum, is native to South Pacific regions. For generations, Samoan communities have used matalafi leaves Read More...
US to begin regulating methane emissions from oil and gas wells
Oil and gas wells, even abandoned ones, are a huge source of emissions. These sites are particularly known for their methane emissions, a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide. A recent NASA project identified particularly problematic emissions sites, and now, for the first time ever, Read More...
Venus Flytraps generate magnetic fields when it’s time to eat
The most famous carnivorous plant, the Venus flytrap, is a pretty weird specimen. Possessing no nervous system, muscles, or tendons, they are able to trap their meals in fang-like mouths. Once their prey is enclosed by their jaws, they start to eat them, using digestive acids and enzymes to Read More...
Easy-to-repair Fairphone raises the bar for sustainable smartphone design
Current smartphone manufacturing methods have a hefty carbon footprint. These poor environmental credentials are only worsened by yearly device releases and hard-to-repair phones, contributing to an already overwhelming amount of e-waste. Some of the carbon-intensive components inside the device, Read More...
Why we have daylight saving time and how you can help your body adjust to it
Daylight savings time 2021 If you live in the US, tomorrow marks the official end of daylight saving time, also known as “fall back.” Despite widespread pushback against the concept of daylight savings, it is still practiced in 48 states (Hawaii and Arizona opt out). Today, we’re sharing the Read More...
Metallic water created on Earth for the first time
Earlier this year, a research team from the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague looked to achieve something science never has before: making metallic water here on Earth. Water is normally bound to other water molecules in a liquid state, but when a high enough pressure is applied, these water Read More...
The case taking for 'meme breaks'
Social media tends to get a bad rep for several reasons, like its addictive qualities and negative impact on our mental health. While social media does have its downfalls, a new study reveals that a certain facet of the internet, memes, actually helps us, especially in terms of alleviating stress Read More...
Rare genetic variant explains pain-free childbirth in some women
Childbirth is the most painful experience of many women’s lives, but for a select few, the process is far less unpleasant. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found that a small proportion of women with a rare genetic variant have a higher threshold for pain during Read More...
New invention slashes time in diagnosing antibiotic resistance
Thanks to the overuse of antibiotics and the intelligence of microorganism evolution, antibiotic-resistant pathogens are on the rise. According to the CDC, over 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections arise annually in the US. The cost of this problem is estimated to be around $4.6 billion per Read More...