Articles by Kalyan Kumar
Study Says ‘Vernal Window’ Opening Earlier, Longer: Is Spring Getting Longer?
With spring’s first day around the corner, the early opening of the 'vernal window' is in focus. The window marks the transition from winter to the growing season and a new study says it spells a long spring.
Vaquita Porpoise Facing Survival Risk: Activists Call For Boycott Of Mexican Shrimp In The US
Conservationists have called for the boycott of Mexican shrimp in the United States to pressure Mexico to save the endangered vaquita porpoises. These animals often get entangled and die in gillnets used to catch shrimp for the U.S. market.
Cannabis Can Help Cure Alzheimer's If Lawmakers Are Flexible: Experts
Researchers in the United States have expressed concern that despite the proven potential of cannabis to treat Alzheimer’s disease, whose numbers and costs are spiraling, the federal regulators are blocking the opportunity to cure millions of people.
Mayo Clinic Preference For Patients With Private Insurance Spurs Probe From Health Officials
A leaked video of Mayo Clinic's CEO urging staffers to give higher preference to patients with private medical insurance has elicited a strong reaction from health officials. They said the matter will be investigated for violation of human rights.
Trump May Hike US Energy Budget To Handle Nuclear Waste
Amidst budget cuts for climate and science, the Trump administration may give the Energy Department a hike. The budget increase will be for handling the country's nuclear stockpile and restart the controversial Yucca Mountain storage facility for nuclear waste.
Biofuels Can Reduce Aircraft Particle Emissions And Contrails: NASA Study
A study by NASA that analyzed aircraft contrails has found the use of biofuels can slash aircraft emission by 70 percent and curtail contrails. The results of the ACCESS project may spur the wider use of biofuels in aviation.
NASA’s Van Allen Probe Finds Fewer Superfast Electrons In Earth’s Inner Radiation Belt
There is good news to flying spacecraft, as NASA’s Van Allen probe found that the inner radiation belt of Earth has only a few super electrons or relativistic electrons, implying that radiation levels are relatively lower than expected.
Newly Discovered Planet System Trappist-1 Was Named After A Famous Beer Brand
TRAPPIST-1, with its seven Earth-like exoplanets, had been exciting all. Its name alone carries quite an appeal, as it is named after a popular beer brand in Belgium, the homeland of the scientists who discovered the planetary system.
Light For The Blind: Artificial Retina Implant May Restore Vision To Millions
Scientists have developed an artificial prosthesis as retina implant that can convert light into electrical signals to stimulate retinal neurons. If the human trial becomes successful, it will help millions of people suffering from retinal degeneration to regain eyesight.
Environmentalists Worried Over Possible Rhino Horn Trade Legalization In South Africa
South Africa's move to legalize the domestic trade of rhino horns has environmentalists worried. Conservationists are opposing the move as local demand is not high and may step up smuggling but the government hopes it will end poaching.
Northern Lights Mystery Gets Complex: New Study Rejects Plasma Turbulence, Mentions Unknown Mechanism
A new research has negated the theory that Northern Lights are causing outages in Global Navigation Satellite Systems or GNSS. It rejected any kind of plasma turbulence and said an unknown mechanism is causing it and a new technology is due.
China Mega National Park For Siberian Tigers To Dwarf US' Yellowstone National Park
China is setting up a mega national park in the northeastern part of the country bordering Russia with the aim of protecting endangered species like Siberian tigers. The new park is expected to dwarf the United States' Yellowstone National Park
Childhood Bullying Can Lead To Health Risks In Adulthood: Study
A new study has drawn serious attention to the long-term impact of bullying in childhood. It says the scars of bullying will ride into adulthood and manifest as chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Artificial Life: Chromosome Synthesis Brightens Scope For Lab-Made Life Forms
Marking a big leap toward the creation of artificial life, scientists successfully synthesized six chromosomes in a yeast cell. The stride by the Synthetic Yeast Genome Project researchers is important in building a eukaryotic organism plus applications in drugs and fuels.
Earth’s Magnetic Pole Reversal: South Atlantic Anomaly Indicating Change, What Are The Consequences?
The weakened magnetic power and the alarming fall of geomagnetism at an area in the Southern Hemisphere known as the South Atlantic Anomaly point to an eventual geomagnetic pole reversal. How will such an occurrence affect the Earth and its inhabitants?
Venus Exploration In High Gear: BepiColombo Mission And More
Venus, known as the sister planet of Earth, is getting more attention with a slew of near-term and mid-term exploration plans. The near-term plans include a flyby of BepiColombo, the joint mission of the ESA and JAXA.
PepsiCo Moves To Biodegradable Film Resin Packaging With Sustainability Agenda
PepsiCo is stretching its sustainability agenda into packaging by switching to biodegradable film resin packaging. The policy aims to cut down greenhouse emissions across the value chain.
Arthritis Crippling One Fourth Of American Adults: Study
Nearly one-fourth of American adults are suffering from arthritis, leaving many unable to conduct daily activities, such as lifting a bag of groceries or holding a cup. Arthritis is accentuated by the lack of exercise, according to a CDC report.
Arctic Facing Threat Of Rapid Ocean Acidification, Marine Species Affected
Rapid ocean acidification is hurting the marine life in the Arctic, mainly in the western part, where shellfish and other marine species in the food web are hit, according to a new study.
Private Space Stations Essential For Lunar Tourism: Vital For Landing And Refueling, Says Expert
Aerospace scientist Robert Bigelow said privately-owned space stations can start orbiting the moon by 2020 if the Trump administration supports private spaceflights. He said such stations are indispensable for sustaining lunar tourism in terms of landing and refueling.
Apple’s Solar Island In Japan To Boost Clean Energy Promise
Boosting the clean energy pledge of Apple, operations in Japan will be moving to 100 percent renewable energy use thanks to local supplier Ibiden’s 20 new facilities. Among them is a solar island that will generate 12 MW of solar power.
Astronomers Turn To Ancient Stardust For Insight On First Stars
An international team of astronomers spotted a young galaxy that is full of stardust from the early universe, offering clues on the formation of the first stars in the universe. The A2744_YD4 is the most remote galaxy ever spotted.
Mars Can Grow Potatoes, Says Potato Research Center
Positive results from a trial from the International Potato Center in growing potatoes with Mars-like conditions have brightened the prospect of growing the tubers on the Red Planet. The NASA-guided project started in February 2016 in Lima, Peru.
Carbon Storage Capacity Of Trees Doubtful: Study
Contrary to the perception that trees absorb carbon dioxide in bulk, a study by Western Sydney University has shown that the capacity for storage of carbon dioxide is not substantial. This was proved in reference to Eucalyptus trees in Australia.
Stephen Hawking Predicts Human Destruction From Technological Advances
Famous physicist Stephen Hawking has cautioned that technological strides that helped humans achieve insurmountable feats will also lead to their demise. He sees threats coming from nuclear war, biological war and advancements like artificial intelligence.
Venture Capital Funds Eyeing Health Tech Startups For Higher Growth
Healthcare tech startups are the new staple of many Venture Capital Funds with a high preference for domains like retail, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Yet another trend is investing in women-led startups for higher growth.
Life On Mars A High Probability As Conditions Match Earliest Life On Earth
Discovery of the oldest fossil of living organism on Earth, estimated to be 4.5 billion years old, reinforces the expectation that Mars might be housing such vestiges, calling for meaningful explorations to confirm the presence of life on the planet.
Jeff Bezos Unveils Images Of BE-4 Liquid Rocket Engine For New Glenn Rocket
After years of hard work, Blue Origin’s first BE-4 rocket engine is ready for photos as released by CEO Jeff Bezos. It will be used for its New Glenn rocket which is expected to ferry humans to the moon.
Asthma Risk High Among Kids With Moms Short On Vitamin E
Children born to mothers with low vitamin E levels bear a higher risk of asthma and require medication in early years. In mothers, the problem is accentuated by the shortage of alpha-tocopherol that comes from sunflower and safflower oils.
NASA Mulls Magnetic Shield For Mars To Make It Habitable For Humans
NASA has suggested Mars can be made habitable by installing a magnetic shield in the orbit between the Red Planet and the sun. According to a NASA scientist, the shield will thwart solar particles and restore the atmosphere.
