Articles by Katherine Derla
NASA Orion Spacecraft To Use Shiny Coating: What Makes This Paint Special?
NASA's Orion spacecraft gets a new flashy paint job to withstand high temperatures over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Orion's shiny new coating is designed to keep the spacecraft cool during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere at the speed of 36,000 feet per second.
Potentially Deadly 'Blue Dragon' Washes Up On Australian Shore: Other Cute Animals That Can Kill You
A 'Blue Dragon,' which washed up on the shores of Queensland, is known to feed on blue bottle jellyfish, ingesting deadly toxins for later use on predators, including humans. Blue Dragons aren't the only cute but deadly animals out there - here are some others to watch out for.
Spiders Leave Giant Blanket Of Spiderwebs In Tennessee
Millions of spiders left a half-mile long spider web on the grass and scared residents of North Memphis, Tennessee just in time for Thanksgiving. Perhaps they were late for Halloween but these spiders started crawling into windows and doors of nearby residents.
High Resting Heart Rates Linked To Higher Odds Of Early Death
Chinese researchers found a higher pulse is linked to higher mortality risks from all causes and cardiovascular diseases. The results do not establish resting heart rate as a risk factor, but they indicate that the pulse can be an indicator of poor health.
Kiss From Pope Francis Helped Shrink Baby's Tumor, Family Says
In late September, Pope Francis visited the city of Philadelphia in the United States and touched many lives, including the life of a one-year-old baby girl whose brain tumor shrank after being kissed by the pontiff. One family friend called the Pope's blessing 'the Miracle on Market Street'.
Amphibian-Inspired Drug May Boost Bone Healing After Fractures
Taking inspiration from amphibians, researchers tested a protein drug that stimulates the Wnt molecular pathway to divide stems cells and produce bone cells. This molecular activation enables faster recovery in bone fracture patients.
New Chocolate Pill May Help Boost Heart Health, Blood Circulation
Several sweets and chocolate companies have joined the flavanols bandwagon. A new method of removing the bitterness from cacao beans led to the creation of chocolate pills packed with heart-friendly flavanols.
Sugar, Corn Industries Settle Sweetener Spat With Secret Deal
The bittersweet legal battle between corn and sugar companies ended in a confidential, off-court settlement midway through a federal court trial. Both sides declared alleged losses that stemmed from false advertising and statements hurled at each other.
Premature 'Miracle Baby' Born On Cruise Ship Arrives Home
Home for Christmas. A premature one-and-a-half pound baby born onboard a Caribbean cruise makes it home to Utah from a hospital in Miami. University of Utah's Flight Med program transport Baby Haiden for free after hearing the family's story.
Walking Speed Linked To Heart Health In Older Adults
Walk the talk. Researchers found senior adults who walk faster, over three miles per hour, have lower risks in developing heart diseases compared those who walk slower. Walking an average of seven blocks daily also helps lower risks of heart ailments.
Biologists Discover Fossil Of Ancient Muscular Fireworm In Lebanon
British biologists discovered a unique fireworm fossil in Lebanon and named it Rollinschaeta myoplena, after American punk rock star Henry Rollins. The fossil turned out to be a novel species.
Low Fat Diets Do Not Work For Long Term Weight Loss: Harvard Research Reveals Why
Harvard researchers found low-fat diets do not have long-term benefits for weight control. Health experts suggest high fat, low carb diet regimens work better for long-term weight loss.
Polar Bear, Human Encounters Could Occur More Often Due To Climate Change
Increased sea ice shrinkage forces more polar bears to spend longer time on land, putting human population safety at risk resulting in more chance encounters. Tracking how they move could hopefully lead to an efficient management protocol for polar bears.
Cyborg Rose: Researchers Implant Electronic Circuits Inside Plants
In a groundbreaking research, Swedish scientists merged a living plant's vascular system with an electronic circuit for the first time. This could pave the way for organic electronics made from a living plant's conducting tissues and supporting fibers.
Tiny Skin Structures Make Fish Invisible In The Ocean
Researchers found the ocean's stealthiest fish species have light-manipulating activities to evade predators. Some fish species' skin cells have microscopic structures that distribute polarized light that make them invisible underwater.
Parents' Fears Over Use Of Social Media, Cellphones In Teens May Be Exaggerated: Study
Researchers from Duke University found that parental fears over teenagers' widespread use of smartphones and social media may be overstated. Despite the exaggeration, sleep disruption and cyber bullying remain as top parental concerns.
Sea Mollusk Has Shell Layered With Hundreds Of Eyes
Researchers found a rare mollusk species with hundreds of eyes layered on its shell. The evolution of most mollusks involves sacrificing sight for protection but this rare mollusk species found a way to sidestep the tradeoff.
One In Ten Patients On Organ Transplant Waiting List Dies Due To Shortage Of Donors
Waitlisted transplant patients continue to be 'in limbo' despite surge in number of organ donor signatures. NHS plans to launch a 14-hour film to raise awareness about the life-saving potentials of donating organs.
Fruit Fly Has Sperm 20 Times Longer Than Its Own Body
What's the 'big' difference between a male human and fruit fly? Researchers found that a tiny fruit fly's sperm is 1,000 times longer than a male human's swimmer.
Having More Than 300 Facebook Friends Causes Stress In Teens
How popular are you on social media? New study found having over 300 friends on Facebook cause stress in teenagers.
Nicotine-Like Pesticides May Damage Wild Honey Bee Populations
Researchers found that wild honeybees offset neonicotinoid pesticides impact by generating more female bees. With limited male bees, the species' long-term survival is put at risk.
New Method Makes Graphene Production 100 Times Cheaper
Glasgow University scientists' groundbreaking research found a new way to mass produce the wonder material called graphene. The new process is 100 times less expensive than the current manufacturing process and is expected to open a wide range of possibilities.
Mammogram-Reading Pigeons May Help Doctors Detect Breast Cancer
An extraordinary research found that when it comes to detecting breast cancer signs in mammogram scans and biopsy samples, pigeons are just as good as doctors. New discovery can lead to the development of new breast cancer diagnostics.
Rectal Thermometer Gives Most Accurate Body Temperature Measurement: Study
It might be uncomfortable but it is surely accurate. Researchers found rectal thermometers are more sensitive, enabling them to give more accurate body temperatures.
McDonald's Operator Faces Lawsuit After Diners Were Exposed To Hepatitis A
McDonald's Waterloo, New York operator Jascor Inc. was sued by a customer due to potential exposure to food and beverage made by a crew member with hepatitis A. The lawsuit is pursuing a class-action status which could include over 1,000 affected customers.
Radiation Superflares Leave Most Earth-Like Planet Too Radioactive For Life
Massive radiation could have led Earth's closest exoplanet, Kepler-438b, uninhabitable. Superflares from its parent Red Dwarf star, Kepler-438, could be destroying the planet's atmosphere.
Charlie Sheen Reveals He Is HIV-Positive In 'Today' Show [Video]
Following a series of blind item tabloid stories, Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen confirmed on the U.S. Today show that he is HIV-positive. His reasons going public include a series of blackmail schemes amounting to $10 million since his diagnosis four years ago.
Drinking Five Cups Of Coffee A Day Could Be Key To Longer Life: How To Make Your Coffee Healthier
A study found regular coffee drinkers have lower chances of dying from various diseases, but not all cups are made equal. Explore your love for the world's favorite dark bittersweet liquid the healthy way.
Johnson & Johnson Advanced Multiple Myeloma Drug Darzalex Wins Accelerated FDA Approval
Newly approved multiple myeloma drug Darzalex offers hope for patients whose prior treatments failed to deliver results. The drug binds to proteins in tumor cells causing them to die and leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Galaxy M87 Has 'Heartbeat': Astronomers Measure Stellar Pulse To Determine Galaxy’s Age
Harvard and Yale astronomers found a galaxy with a heartbeat. The ground-breaking study measured, for the first time, how the light in surrounding galaxies is affected by pulsating red stars.
