Articles by Allan Adamson
NASA's WISE Mission Spots 2 Approaching Celestial Bodies: Do These Near-Earth Objects Pose Threats?
The NEOWISE mission discovered two near-Earth objects approaching our planet. One is in a blurry line between a comet and asteroid, and the other is a comet that can be seen using binoculars.
New Year's Comet A Bad Omen? Comet 45P To Herald Year Of Better Comet Viewing
Comets are historically seen as omens of bad luck. Comet 45P will appear on New Year's Eve, but people can expect to see more comets through most of 2017.
US Issues First Intersex Birth Certificate To Sexually Ambiguous Sara Kelly Keenan
Sara Kelly Keenan, who was born with male genes and female genitals, received the first known birth certificate in the U.S with intersex in the gender field. This is hailed as historically significant especially for sexually ambiguous people.
Leap Second On New Year's Eve: What Happens If We Don't Add Another Second To World's Clocks?
A leap second will be added on New Year's Eve, which will make 2016 longer. Why is it necessary to add another second to the world's clocks this year?
Facial Wash St. Ives Apricot Scrub Faces Lawsuit Over Ingredient That May Cause Skin Damage
St. Ives Apricot Scrub parent company Unilever faces a lawsuit over the ingredient used in its popular skin product. The plaintiffs said this ingredient can cause skin damage.
Comet 45P To Light Night Sky On New Year's Eve: How To See It
Comet 45P will have its own celestial show to welcome the new year on Saturday. Here's how to see the comet in the night sky and distinguish it from planets and stars.
Mysterious Illness Linked To Marijuana Use Spikes In States That Legalized Weed
Doctors see rising cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in states that legalized marijuana. What are the symptoms of this condition and how can it be treated?
Brushstrokes In Paintings Can Predict Onset Of Neurodegenerative Diseases Like Alzheimer's
Paint strokes of seven famous painters revealed that patterns in paintings may hint the onset of neurodegenerative disorders in artists. How does fractal analysis help detect the onset of Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease?
Climate Change Causing Birds To Migrate Early
The rising global temperature is causing birds to migrate earlier. How does the wrong timing in migration affect birds?
2016 Extra 'Leap Second' Longer Because Of Ocean Waves
A leap second will be added to the world's clocks on New Year's Eve. What could happen if this extra second was not added?
China's Five-Year Space Program Plans Include Moon And Mars Missions
Over the next five years, China will launch a lunar mission to the far side of the moon. It also aims to send a probe to planet Mars by 2020.
Only 7,100 Cheetahs Left In The Wild: Extinction Looming For World's Fastest Mammal
Cheetah experts call for the IUCN to re-categorize the world's fastest mammal from vulnerable to endangered. Only 7,100 of these species are left in the wild.
Bats Have Language They Use To Talk To Each Other: Study
An analysis of sounds produced by Egyptian fruit bats revealed the nocturnal creatures produce noise with a range of information. What do the flying mammals communicate with their 'language?'
One Dead, One Injured In Mexican Teenager's Viral Birthday Party
Rubí Ibarra García's quinceañera was marred by accidents. One person died and another was injured in the horse race at the viral birthday party.
X-Men's Wolverine Inspires Design Of Self-Healing Material That Conducts Electricity
Researchers have developed a Wolverine-inspired material that is highly stretchable and can heal itself from a scissor's cut within 24 hours. What are the potential applications of self-healing technologies?
China Could Become First Country To Land Probe On Far Side Of The Moon
China aims to soft land a probe on the far side of the moon by 2018, a feat that has not yet been done by other countries. What does China want to achieve?
Researchers Use Microscopic Diamonds To Assemble Atoms Into Tiny Wires Like LEGO
Microscopic diamonds known as diamondoids were used to make tiny wires measuring just three atoms wide. What are the potential uses of the technique and the tiny wires?
Dinosaur That Lost Teeth As An Adult May Explain Why Birds Have Toothless Beak
The dinosaur Limusaurus inextricabilis was born with teeth but became toothless when it became an adult. Its dental transformation may shed light on the evolution of the bird's beak.
Gravitational Wave Scientists Earn Top Science Magazine Award: What Made LIGO Discovery A Scientific Breakthrough?
The discovery of gravitational waves validated Einstein's 100-year old prediction, but what made the discovery so special Science magazine hailed it as the scientific breakthrough of the year?
Heart Attack Risk Higher During Christmas Time: What Is Behind Spike In Cardiac Deaths During The Holidays?
Cold weather is widely blamed for the spike in heart-related deaths during the Christmas holiday, but a new study debunks this. What cause the increased cardiac deaths during the holidays?
World's Smallest Snowman Is Smaller Than Human Hair
The world's smallest snowman is made of tiny silica spheres and measures less than 3 microns tall, which is smaller than the diameter of human hair. How was it made?
Ebola Vaccine rVSV-EBOV Gives 100 Percent Protection But Comes With Flaws: What Are Its Side Effects?
The new Ebola vaccine rVSV-EBOV shows promise in preventing the next outbreak of the disease but it comes with side effects. It also only works against one subtype of the hemorrhagic virus.
Another Star Exhibits Mysterious Dimming: Clouds In Magnetosphere Likely The Cause
NASA's Kepler observatory spotted another star with a bizarre dimming of light, similar to what was observed in the 'alien megastructure star' KIC 8462852. Scientists think the dimming of RIK-210 is caused by clouds of particles in the magnetosphere.
New Ebola Vaccine Offers Up To 100 Percent Protection Against Deadly Virus
The experimental Ebola vaccine rVSV-EBOV was up to 100 percent effective in providing protection against the deadly hemorrhagic disease but it is far from perfect. What are the flaws of the vaccine?
Volcano That Caused Europe’s Largest Volcanic Eruption Stirring Again: What Would Happen If A Supervolcano Erupts?
The Campi Flegrei volcano in Italy which caused Europe's largest volcanic eruption shows signs it could blow up again. What happens when supervolcanoes such as Camp Flegrei and Yellowstone erupt?
Brains May Not Yet Fully Mature Until After Age 30
Grown-ups may still have immature brains. Neuroscientists said that the brain continues to actively develop past 18 years old and may still undergo changes until the early 30s.
Bipedal Dinosaur Born With Teeth Became Toothless By Adulthood
The bipedal dinosaur Limusaurus inextricabilis was born with teeth but they became toothless as they got older. How did this phenomenon known as ontogenetic edentulism benefit the prehistoric bird-like creature?
Supervolcano That Caused Largest Explosion In History Of Europe May Blow Up Again
The volcanic eruption that formed the Campi Flegrei caldera 39,000 years ago is the largest in the history of Europe. Is the supervolcano under Naples in Italy about to erupt again?
Holiday Season Kills: Deaths Spike Between Christmas And New Year's Day
More people die of natural causes between Christmas day and New Year's day. What could be driving the spike in deaths during the holiday season?
Solar-Powered Artificial Leaf Can Produce Drugs For Sick Astronauts In Mars
Access to life-saving drugs is crucial for astronauts who will be sent for manned mission to Mars. An artificial leaf powered by sunlight may serve as a mini-factory of medicines on the red planet.
