Articles by Diane Samson
Who Is Katie Bouman And Why You Should Thank Her For The First-Ever Picture Of A Black Hole?
Katie Bouman developed the algorithm that sorted through tons of astronomical data and created the first-ever image of a black hole. The 29-year-old computer scientist started working on the algorithm three years ago as a graduate student at MIT.
Scientists Unravel The Secret To Pyroclastic Flow Speed
Scientists figured out why pyroclastic flow cheat friction and move rapidly. The findings could help scientists and the authorities to predict the movement of the heated volcanic materials and save the communities in its path.
Number Of Children With Suicide Attempts Doubled In The Past 10 Years
The number of emergency room visits due to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among children rose to 1.2 million in 2015. More than half of those visits are children from ages 5 to 11.
Let The Dogs Out! Canine Sense Of Smell Demonstrates 97 Percent Accuracy In Cancer Detection
Scientists trained four beagles to identify blood samples from volunteers who have been diagnosed with lung cancer. The study could lead to new non-invasive methods to detect cancer early and improve the survival rate.
Food Additive Used In Crackers, Meat, And Fried Food Can Make People More Susceptible To Flu
A common food additive suppressed two types of T cells, which respond to the influenza virus when a person is infected, in lab mice. It also affected the immune system's memory response and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.
LOOK: Researchers Capture 17-Foot-Long Python Carrying 73 Eggs In The Florida Everglades
Snake hunters have captured the largest-ever Burmese python in the Florida Everglades as part of the efforts to eradicate the non-native species in the area. Burmese pythons threaten the native creatures that live in the marshy grasslands.
Hubble Telescope Finds Mysterious 'Gateway' At Center Of Galaxy
Some believe that Hubble has spotted the gates of heaven at the core of a nearby galaxy known as Messier 51. In 1992, the space telescope captured an 'X' structure that marks the location of a black hole.
Is Smoking Marijuana More Dangerous Than Smoking Tobacco?
Marijuana has been linked to several health benefits, including relief from chronic pain. However, government officials and public health experts remained apprehensive about the legalization of the recreational use of the drug.
Strange 'Alien' Lights From NASA Aurora Experiment Looks Out Of This World
NASA's AZURE mission launched on Friday, creating a spectacular light show in the sky over northern Norway. The experiment is part of a larger effort to study the region of the atmosphere where particles from Earth and outer space interact.
Researchers Find Correlation Between Medicaid And Lower Rate Of Heart-Related Deaths
Researchers found that counties, where Medicaid coverage was expanded, saw lower mortality linked to cardiovascular diseases. The findings add evidence to the claim that the presence or absence of health insurance can influence public health.
Weedy Rice Keeps On Evolving Roots That 'Cheat'
Researchers created 3D models of weedy rice root systems to figure out how the pests drive out other crops and take over a field. They found that the pests evolved cheater roots that give them unfair advantages.
Man With Flu-Like Symptoms Dies In ICE Processing Center
A man detained at an ICE facility in Florida died after being placed under medical observation for symptoms of the flu. The 52-year-old is the fourth person to die this fiscal year while in the custody of ICE.
Molecular Biologist Sydney Brenner Who Helped Unravel The Genetic Code Passes Away At 92
A*Star, a research facility based in Singapore, confirmed that Dr. Sydney Brenner passed away in his sleep on Friday. The revered scientist made plenty of contributions to the fields of genetics and developmental biology.
Study Identifies Quick And Easy Way To Sharply Reduce Stress Levels
A study found that taking a 20-minute walk in a park or a garden could significantly lower a person's cortisol levels. Scientists hope that the findings will lead to healthcare practitioners to start prescribing the so-called 'nature pills.'
Researchers Find Method To Make Light Go 30 Times Faster
In an experiment, the researchers demonstrated how they controlled the velocity of a pulse of light in free space without additional materials. They achieved the feat by using a device called spatial light modulator.
Organ Donors With Hepatitis C Eligible For Donating Heart And Lungs, Says Study
A study proved that antiviral drugs can prevent the hepatitis C virus from spreading among patients who received heart and lungs transplant. The new findings prevent organs donated by people who have the disease from being discarded for fear of infection.
Recovery Of Great Barrier Reef Slows Down With Lower Number Of Baby Corals
The back-to-back bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 crashed the Great Barrier Reef's new coral recruitment. According to scientists, it would take 10 years for the world's largest coral reef system to recover.
Cigna Wants To Cap Insulin Monthly Out-Of-Pocket Expenses At $25
Cigna announced a new program that offers a 40 percent reduction in the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for members who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The company said that about 700,000 people will benefit from the price change.
Boeing Starliner Testing Pushed Back Even Further
NASA confirmed that the uncrewed test flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner has been moved to August. The delay, according to the space agency, is due to limited launch opportunities this spring.
Tweeting Midflight Can Kill Migratory Birds, Says Study
Researchers found that the nighttime tweeting of migratory birds in urban areas result in building collisions. They suspect that artificial light disorients birds during flight, causing them to chirp more often and lead other birds into their deaths.
Experts To Look Into Low-Carb Diets In Time For US Dietary Guidelines Update
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines is scheduled to be updated and some are hoping that low-carb diets will be added. Health officials will review the diet to be considered for the new guideline that will be released next year.
Scientists Have Discovered A Phallic-Looking Clam That Feeds On Discarded Timber
Researchers found a new species and three new genera of wood-boring clams. The creatures play a major role in keeping the ocean floor free from wood and contribute to the cycling of carbon for a thriving marine ecosystem.
Judge Sides With Kentucky School On Banning Unvaccinated Student
A judge from Kentucky sided with the decision of the state health department to ban unvaccinated students from attending classes at Assumption Academy. A total of 32 cases of chickenpox have been reported in the school since February.
Researchers Develop Cancer Detection Wearable Device
A wearable device that can detect cancer cells shows promise during animal testing. The new technology screens for cancer cells in larger volumes of circulating blood, making liquid biopsies obsolete.
Heatwave Causes Extreme Coral Bleaching In Australian Marine Park
Lord Howe Island Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been hit with widespread coral bleaching. In some areas, scientists reported that about 90 percent of corals have been damaged due to warmer ocean water temperature.
NASA And MIT Collaborate On Next-Gen Flexible Airplane Wing Design
The new designs proposed airplane wings that can bend and change its shape based on the individual requirements of every stage of flight. These airplane wings offer better energy efficiency and improved performance.
Cyclone That Hit Mozambique Shows Impact Of Climate Change On Poorest Populations
Cyclone Ida, which devastated Mozambique and other southern African countries in March, is proof that the negative impacts of climate change have started to manifest now. Experts warned that developing countries will be the hardest hit by extreme weather events.
Fish Slime Could Be Next Big Thing In Antibiotics
The microbes found in fish slime could lead to the development of new antibiotics to treat infections caused by superbugs. Researchers already found strains of bacteria that have the potential to fight methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Second Galaxy Without Any Dark Matter Found By Astronomers
Yale astronomers discovered a second ultra-diffuse galaxy that is almost devoid of dark matter. The existence of DF2 and DF4 back the dark matter theory, proving that the mysterious stuff can exist separately from regular matter.
NASA's Mars Helicopter Drone Aces First Flight Tests
NASA's Mars Helicopter went through a series of flight tests at the Jet Propulsion Lab in preparation for its launch next year. The technology will blast off alongside the Mars 2020 rover on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
