Articles by Rebecca Kaplan
Obama’s expansion of marine sanctuary makes it world’s largest
President Obama has added new waters to the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. This addition makes it the largest marine sanctuary in the world, at 490,000 square miles.
How your ‘better half’ affects your career success
The type of personality your spouse has may affect your success at work, according to a new study. Different personality types can exert different influences in marriage.
How to survive a plane crash 101, brought to you by British Airways
British Airways is now offering a flight safety course, open to frequent fliers. The class simulates a crash on a Boeing 737 plane.
Mosquitoes are the new (ironic) dengue-fighters in Brazil
Researchers in Brazil have found a way to turn mosquitoes, the carrier of dengue, into transmitters of the cure for dengue. The first batch of mosquitoes has been released in Rio de Janeiro.
Restoring the Great Lakes: EPA’s plan to improve world’s largest freshwater source
A new five-year plan to restore the Great Lakes was announced yesterday. This is the second phase of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which first started in 2010.
Raising chimpanzees apart from other chimps hurts them in the long run, says study
Raising chimpanzees in isolation from other chimpanzees does real and long-lasting damage to their ability to socialize with other chimps, a new study shows. The study's leader hopes the findings will discourage people from keeping chimpanzees as pets.
Butterflies migrating south fly onto weather radar as massive blue clouds
The National Weather Service picked up a cloud of interference this week. The culprit, it turns out, was a swarm of migrating butterflies caught in the radar.
Fruits and veggies are feel-good foods, proper portions keep away blues
Eating five or more portions of fruits and vegetables may be associated with good mental health, a new study shows. This adds to the growing body of research showing that it's good for you to eat your veggies!
Antarctic fish antifreeze protein is a bittersweet adaptation: Ice won't grow, but it also won't melt
Antarctic fish manage to survive sub-zero temperatures with a protein that prevents ice from freezing. However, that same protein also keeps ice from melting.
India’s Mars mission: The little engine that could (and did)
India's Mars Orbiter Mission reaches Red Planet's orbit, beating out Asian rivals and other Mars missions as first successful maiden voyage. Mangalyaan spacecraft was on a tight budget, but succeeded nonetheless.
Potential blood test for hallucinations in the works, possible screening for schizophrenia
A new study shows that a blood test can identify psychosis risk with high accuracy. More research needs to be done to verify the results, but it may soon be possible to catch psychosis risk early on.
Reducing heart attack risk may be within one's control
Healthier lifestyle choices such as exercising more and maintaining a lower body weight can reduce risk for heart attack dramatically, a new study shows. Participants who followed a good diet, exercised, didn't smoke, maintained a healthy weight, and consumed alcohol in moderation, cut their risk of heart attacks by about 80 percent.
Bicep2’s Big Bang discovery bites the dust as suspicions of error are confirmed
A new study confirms the doubts scientists had about the results of the Bicep2 study. The Bicep2 team reported in March that it had found a gravitational wave left over from the Big Bang. However, the presence of stardust may have thrown off the team's results.
Shellfish adhesives and other biomimetic feats: Looking to nature for our best ideas
A team from MIT has created a new adhesive with proteins found in mussels and other shellfish. The adhesive substance they created is very strong, and waterproof.
Free pot for vets in Denver to ease their pain
An organization called Grow4Vets recently hosted an event in Colorado, giving away pot to hundreds of veterans coping with PTSD. The organization is pushing for country-wide legalization of medical marijuana to treat vets with PTSD.
Climate crisis frontline needs more doctors
A new study published in JAMA discusses the heat risks associated with climate change. The study's authors call for doctors to get involved in preventing global warming and climate change to save not just the planet, but their patients' health.
MIT Hackathon creates best breast pump device, because every mom is a ‘Mighty Mom’
Move over, clumsy, inconvenient breast pumps! The results of MIT's Hackathon to improve breast pump design are in and a promising new hands-free pump named Mighty Mom has been created.
Possible detection of dark matter particles by AMS excites scientists
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer may have identified positrons, scientists reported this week. This breakthrough may shed light on the origin of dark matter.
Meet Rhinorex condrupus: The nose king. No, really, the dinosaur with a HUGE nose
Paleontologists discovered a new hadrosaur with an unusually large nose. The dinosaur was discovered from a fossil in storage at Brigham Young University in Utah.
We will spy on you less often: CIA attempts to tell Europe
The CIA has reigned in much of its undercover activity in Western Europe. This follows the scandal in Germany where a German government worker was caught giving government documents to the CIA.
Former Phoenix Suns star Rex Chapman arrested for stealing $14,000 worth of Apple products by faking EasyPay
A former NBA basketball player was arrested yesterday for felony-level theft of Apple products. Rex Chapman was tied to a string of thefts using EasyPay to nab $14,000 worth of Apple's goods.
US power plants are world's biggest pollutants, says new report
A report says that American power plants contribute more to greenhouse gases than any other country's economy worldwide, with the exception of China. This announcement comes in the week before the UN Summit on climate change.
Wildfire-fighting and California’s state of emergency
California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency after two out-of-control wildfires swept through the state this week. Man charged with arson for Northern California fire.
Big companies join attack on rising greenhouse gas emissions
The Obama Administration just unveiled a serious plan to tackle HFC, a harmful greenhouse gas commonly used in coolants. This could make a significant impact to the environment.
I can be brown, I can be blue…cephalopod-inspired material changes color with a remote
Researchers at MIT are continuing to improve a camouflage skin that can change fluorescence and texture via remote control. The skin is based on the very versatile skin of an octopus.
Consume responsibly: Colorado marijuana ads launch attack against anti-pot campaigns
New ads by the pot industry strike back at anti-marijuana campaigns. The MPP hopes to push users to "consume responsibly," rather than harbor fear.
Chimps are naturally lethally aggressive; human impact not to blame
Chimpanzees do not kill each other because of human impact on their environment, a new study shows. Some chimpanzee communities kill members to eliminate rivals when competing for resources.
Modern Europeans’ gene pool an amalgam of three interbreeding ancient peoples
Modern Europeans may be descended from three ancient populations that interbred, a new study shows. Near Easterners, west European hunter-gatherers and ancient Siberians all seem to have contributed to today's gene pool.
Stone monument in Israel discovered: It’s massive and older than Stonehenge
Ido Wachtel, an archaeology graduate student, discovered something amazing hiding in plain sight: a massive stone monument in Israel. The structure was previously considered part of a wall.
Why we all look different: An evolutionary adaptation for uniqueness
A new study finds that humans likely evolved our extraordinarily varied faces for evolutionary advantage. The team gives us new insight into how our facial genetics work.
