Articles by Allan Adamson
Deep-Sea Marine Animals Use Heat From Hydrothermal Vents To Hatch Eggs Faster
Deep-sea skates, relatives of the sharks and rays, were laying their eggs near hydrothermal vents. The marine animals are strategically placing their eggs in warmer water likely to speed up the development of their embryos.
Scientists Grow Human Eggs Ready To Be Fertilized
For the first time, researchers grow human eggs from the earliest stage to a point these are ready to be fertilized. How can the technology help girls with childhood cancer?
Contagious Stomach Bug Hits 2018 Winter Olympics In South Korea
The norovirus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting, infected security personnel hired for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Some 1,200 individuals are now quarantined to contain the spread of infection.
This New Drug May Reverse The Damaging Effects Of Alcohol On The Brain
Tandospirone is already used as a treatment for depression and anxiety in Japan and China. Now, researchers who conducted animal studies found it may also help reverse the effects of heavy alcohol use on the brain.
The Sun Will Be Dimmer By 2050
Physicist predicted that the sun will emit less radiation by the mid-century because of an event known as Grand Minimum. What happens when the sun emits less UV radiation than normal?
Ozone Layer Depletion Caused By Ancient Volcanic Eruptions Contributed To Earth's Largest Mass Extinction
The depletion of the ozone layer caused by periodic volcanic eruptions has contributed to the largest mass extinction event Earth has experienced. How did the phenomenon lead to the collapse of the biosphere?
Cheddar Man: Britain's Dark-Skinned Ancestor Shows Pale Skin Of Europeans Is A Recent Phenomenon
The Cheddar Man, a hunter-gatherer who lived about 10,000 years ago, had dark skin and blue eyes. These traits are indicative of the physical characteristics of the population of Europe during his time.
Venus Flytraps Do Not Eat Insects That Pollinate Their Flowers
The Venus flytrap avoids eating bees and beetles that pollinate its flowers. How does the carnivorous plants avoid gobbling up pollinators that help it reproduce?
Beetles Eaten By Toads Can Escape From Their Predators’ Stomach Using Hot Chemical Spray
The bombardier beetle uses a toxic chemical secretion to escape its predator even after it gets ingested. It can also survive up to 107 minutes inside the toad's stomach.
More Than Skin Deep: Acne May Increase Risk For Major Depression
People with acne are at greater risk of suffering from major depression compared with those without the skin condition. Experts have advice on how to deal with the emotional effects of acne.
1 In 20 US Kids May Have Fetal Alcohol Disorders
Up to one in 20 children in the United States may be affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which is caused by prenatal drinking. What is the safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy?
Woman May Have Eaten Tail Of Dead Lizard Found In Store-Bought Lettuce
A woman in Maine initially thought that the thing in her fork was a slice of avocado. She later realized it was a tailless dead lizard, and she isn't sure if she has ingested the animal's tail.
Noise Pollution May Increase Risk Of Heart Disease
Exposure to noise was linked to increased risk for irregular heart rhythms and high blood pressure. What is the level of noise that can increase a person's odds for heart disease?
Nursing Homes Still Administer Dangerous Antipsychotic Drugs To Dementia Patients
Antipsychotic drugs may increase risk of death in dementia patients. Why do nursing homes continue to give these medications to their residents including those not diagnosed of conditions these drugs were designed for?
Marbled Crayfish That Can Clone Themselves Originated From One Mutant Ancestor
The marbled crayfish did not exist 25 years ago, but it now numbers in millions. Genome sequencing revealed that the species descended from a single mutant crayfish with an extra DNA.
Hot Tea May Increase Risk For Esophageal Cancer In Cigarette Smokers And Alcohol Drinkers
A study involving nearly 500,000 adults in China suggests that smokers and heavy drinkers who drink hot tea regularly may have increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. How can the hot beverage cause the potentially fatal disease?
Dim Light Can Change Brain Structure And Impair Memory
Findings of an animal study showed that frequently staying in dimly-lit room can change the brain's structure and impair ability to learn and remember. How does dim light affect memory and learning?
Microplastic Pollution Threatens Giants Of The Ocean, Scientists Warn
Filter feeders such as whales and whale sharks ingest large amounts of microplastic as the ocean becomes increasingly polluted with plastic debris. What are the effects of plastic on these giant marine creatures?
Flat Earther Mad Mike Hughes Fails To Launch Himself Aboard Homemade Rocket
Mad Mike Hughes failed to launch himself aboard his rocket last year because he could not get permit from Bureau of Land Management. What prevented the flat Earth conspiracy theorist and his rocket to lift off this time?
New Cancer Vaccine Holds Promise In Preventing Metastases And Cancer Recurrence
A treatment that involves injecting immune stimulating agents into solid tumors eliminates all traces of cancer in mice. The cancer vaccine may potentially prevent cancers from returning after treatment.
Cheetah's High-Speed Hunting Linked To Recently Evolved Inner Ear
The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is known for its hunting prowess. Analyses of different felid specimens revealed the animal's high-speed hunting is associated with its inner ear.
Scientists Find Planets Outside Of The Milky Way Galaxy For The First Time
Astronomers used microlensing to discover planets outside the Milky Way in a galaxy 13,000 light years away from Earth. How does this method help find distant exoplanets?
Newly Discovered Brain Cells May Lead To New Drugs That Can Reduce Anxiety
Current treatments for anxiety disorders have their drawbacks. The discovery of anxiety cells in the hippocampus of the brain could pave way for new drugs that can better address the most common mental illness in the United States.
Russia Wants To Send Tourists To Spacewalk At The International Space Station By 2019
A space industry official revealed Russia's plan to send tourists to the International Space Station. What did the world's first space tourist do during his weeklong stay at the ISS in 2001?
Traumatic Brain Injury May Still Increase Dementia Risk Years After Accident
Traumatic brain injury patients still face a greater risk of dementia decades after the accident. Experts offered advice on how those with TBI can reduce their risk of developing the neurological disorder.
Higher Folate Intake Not Harmful: UK Concern Over Fortifying Flour With Folic Acid Unjustified
Researchers reanalyzed the data used by the US Institute of Medicine as the basis for tolerable upper intake level of folate. They found no link between high doses of folic acid and increased risk of neurological damage.
Drug Distributors Flooded Small West Virginia Town With 20.8 Million Opioid Painkillers
In just 10 years, two drug wholesalers has sent more than 20 million painkillers to a town in West Virginia, which only has 2,900 population. Other small towns also received excessive number of prescription painkillers.
Nicotine In E-Cigarette Vapors May Cause Cancer, Mouse Study Suggests
Experiments conducted on mice and cultured human cells show that nicotine in e-cigarette vapors may cause changes in the DNA that may elevate cancer risk. Does this mean e-cigarettes can cause cancer in humans?
Pocket-Sized Device Could Make Genome Sequencing Cheaper And Faster
The mobile phone-sized device called MinION sequenced a complete human genome ever mapped using a single technology. What are its potential applications in the field of medicine?
Naked Mole Rats May Hold Clue To Fountain Of Youth
Naked mole rats should have a lifespan of six years but they can live to more than 30 years. These burrowing rodents may hold the secrets of longevity and treatment to age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's.
