Search
Total number of posts: 23923
Air is safest to breathe in more than 20 years
Contrary to what many people may think, the air quality in cities across the US has been getting better for many years. Since 1990 mercury released from human sources is down 60 percent, benzene—a toxic greenhouse gas—is down 66 percent, and lead pollution which impacts brain development has Read More...
Redesigned hospital room makes patients heal faster
In hospitals we should expect any help to get better. But the food is terrible and the rooms are even worse. Researchers at The University Medical Center at Princeton spent months thinking, evaluating, and designing a room to make people feel better. The result? It worked—and remarkably well. Read More...
The benefits of human touch
Amazing things can happen with just a simple touch, like holding someone’s hand. Research has shown that the human touch can relive anxiety, reduce fear, and decrease the perception of physical pain. In times of stress, a touch can positively impact hormones in the brain’s hypothalamus, the Read More...
Off the grid, on to wheels
As a native to Red Hook, New York, it made sense for Jonathan Von Reusner to continue living at home during his freshman year while attending the local university, Bard College. But by the time sophomore year hit he got the itch to find his own place and searched for an affordable way to move out Read More...
A healing touch
“You can’t imagine how much it helped me having you there to hold my hand when I was so scared.” Have you ever said this to someone in your life? Or has someone ever said it to you? Something remarkable happens through physical contact, something as powerful as a drug, something that Read More...
Scientists discover how lizards regrow their tails
For years scientists have been perplexed at how lizards regrow their tails, a great defense mechanism that could have huge implications for human amputees. Researchers at Arizona State University have uncovered the “genetic recipe” that lizards “turn on” to regrow their tails. Scientists Read More...
Finding humor everywhere
We all like to laugh, but do you actively seek out ways to find things funny? You probably don’t, but might want to consider it. Laughing gets your heart going, which improves cardio health, engages your core muscles, and releases endorphins, your body’s natural pain killer. [caption Read More...
This solar panel turns your window into an energy producer
Remember those times you actually needed a roof on your house to capture the sun’s energy? No more. Windows are the next frontier. Researchers from Michigan State University have designed a new type of solar concentrator that can be put over clear windows to turn them into solar cells. The Read More...
Urban farms give Singapore food stability
Buying food in Singapore can get expensive. The tiny island-nation relies on 35 countries to import 90 percent of its food. One of the main reasons for this is land scarcity—at only 280 square miles with a population of 5.3 million people, Singapore has just about ran out of space. Importing so Read More...
Bacteria could push biofuel production into mainstream
The idea behind biofules is great—use organic matter to make gas instead of dirty fossil fuels. But the process is hard to nail down. Utilizing foodstuffs to produce biofuel doesn’t make sense, and other plants entered into the biofuel production chain usually require more energy to make than Read More...