Articles by Katrina Pascual
Drug Overdose Deaths Plague West Virginia, Deplete State Funding For Indigent Burials
Fatal drug overdoses in West Virginia have kept increasing and are nearly three times the national average. They are taking their toll on the state burial assistance program, which is facing a looming budget deficit.
Here’s How Google’s AI Helps Detect Cancer Via Deep Learning
Google has trained algorithms using the deep-learning approach GoogLeNet to match or exceed a pathologist’s performance in breast cancer diagnosis. Learn the potential of the technology in speedier, more accurate cancer detection.
Thanks To A Strong Tail, Dinosaurs Managed To Stand On 2 Feet
What made bipedalism in dinosaurs possible, and what's the evolutionary purpose behind it? Researchers of a new study point to a strong tail made up of huge, leg-powering muscles.
Trees Cultivated By Early Human Settlers Shape Amazon Rainforest: Study
The Amazon rainforest has always been viewed as pristine and untouched by humans. But a new study has concluded that the forests may have been largely shaped by trees cultivated by early settlers thousands of years ago.
How Trump’s Planned Cuts To Climate Science Agency Budget Can Put Your Life At Risk
A leaked White House memo reveals planned NOAA budget cuts, feared to put climate change research - and lives - at risk. Just how exactly will these U.S. environmental budget cuts affect weather satellites and related initiatives?
California High School Makes $24 Million By Investing In Snap IPO
Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, poured an early investment of $15,000 for Snap Inc., the maker of Snapchat. Today the investment in Snap's IPO is worth $24 million.
SpaceX Shoots For The Moon In 2018: How Feasible Is It?
In 2018, SpaceX plans to fly people around the moon using the Falcon Heavy rocket and the Dragon V2 capsule. How feasible is Elon Musk's moonshot and what does the spaceflight company's track record say about its future success?
NOAA Spots UFO-Looking Jellyfish, Other Astounding Life Forms In Latest Sea Dive
A cosmic jellyfish, Venus flytrap anemone, and a range of mollusks are among the curious finds of the NOAA in its latest sea dives. The expedition in the American Samoa, a remote region of the Pacific.
Colorectal Cancer: 'Very, Very Subtle' Signs And Symptoms To Heed
In light of new findings that more Gen Xers and millenials are getting colorectal cancers, what signs and symptoms should one look for? Quite subtle ones, according to experts who remind about common indicators of the disease.
Labiaplasty, Lip Reduction Surgery On The Rise In The US
Lip reduction procedures, labiaplasty, and breast augmentation enjoyed year-on-year growth in cosmetic surgeries in 2016. New figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reflect current plastic surgery trends.
Key Experiment At Large Hadron Collider Gets Major Upgrade To Boost Particle Hunt
The pixel tracker inside the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) of the Large Hadron Collider has just been upgraded. This tune-up is made to boost the particle accelerator's hunt for new particles and the elusive dark matter.
Parents File Charges Over 14-Month-Old Baby’s Death During Dentist Visit
The parents of 14-month-old Daisy Lynn who died after a dental procedure in North Austin have filed a lawsuit against the dentist, an anesthesiologist, and the dentist office. Learn more details about the alleged dental malpractice.
Wild African Elephants Are Shortest Sleepers Among Land Mammals
A new study finds that wild African elephants sleep an average of two hours a day, the currently known shortest sleep time among land mammals. Find out other discoveries on animal sleep when the team made use of Fitbit-type trackers.
Original Penicillin Mold Sells For Over $14,000: Here’s The Story Behind The Prized Relic
The original mold from penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming almost 90 years ago, was sold on March 1 at the auction house Bonhams in London. Here are facts and trivia about the prized capsule that was auctioned off for $14,597.
The Icky Truth: How Much Pee Is In Swimming Pools?
People are actually peeing in swimming pools. Now Canadian researchers have ventured to know the concentration of urine in pools and hot tubs by measuring the amount of sweetener acesulfame potassium in the water.
Balmy Days: Antarctica Hits Record-High Temperature
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced record-high heat in Antarctica at 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded last March 24, 2015. Here are other record highs and lows in temperature amid climate change.
Laser Light Reveals What Feathered Dinosaurs Looked Like - And Whether They Could Fly
Can the Anchiornis dinosaur fly, glide, or do neither? A new study harnessing laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF) to image the prehistoric creatures' fossils helps enrich the discussion on avian evolution and dinosaur history.
Find Out How Early Spring Is Arriving In Your State
New maps from the USA National Phenology Network of the USGS reveal the early arrival of spring this year in many parts of the country. What accounts for the unusual season change?
Why Are Colon And Rectal Cancers Rising Among Young US Adults?
More Gen Xers and millennials are suffering from colon and rectal cancers, according to a new American Cancer Society study. While the rates are climbing steeply among young and middle-aged Americans, they kept dropping among adults 55 years old and above.
Humans Have A Hand In Over 80 Percent of Wildfires In America: Study
A staggering 84 percent of all wildfires in the United States are caused by humans, with the remaining 16 percent ignited by lightning. Learn more about human-induced wildfires and how they can be managed and controlled.
How Do Fad Diets Actually Affect Heart Health?
New diet trends in the United States include juicing, gluten-free diets, and intake of antioxidant supplements. A new review seeks to investigate their actual effects on heart health and whether they're helping improve cardiovascular wellness or not.
Official Name Themes For Pluto And Its Moons Get The Nod From IAU
The International Astronomical Union has approved the naming themes for features on Pluto, along with largest Pluto moon Charon and four smaller ones. Some themes continue focusing on the mythology of the underworld ruled by Roman god Pluto.
Half Of Earth’s Species Could Be Extinct By 2100: Biologists
One in five species on Earth is now threatened by extinction and the number could rise to 50 percent by 2100. These are some warnings of experts attending the Biological Extinction workshop at the Vatican this week.
‘Priority Pathogens’: WHO Sounds Alarm On These 12 Superbugs
The WHO has published its first-ever list of antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens,” which details the 12 superbugs believed to pose the greatest threat to human health. Find out what these drug-resistant bacteria are.
On International Polar Bear Day: Are We The Last To See The Struggling Creatures?
On International Polar Bear Day, one is left to wonder: are we the last generation to witness the lovely polar bear in existence? Learn about the role of melting sea ice and climate change in threats to this animal's survival.
One-Third Of Eating Disorder Patients Not Referred For Proper Care: Survey
One-third of eating disorders sufferers are not endorsed to a mental health service for treatment when they visit a doctor. This has prompted a UK charity to call for better medical school training in spotting anorexia nervosa and similar conditions.
The Great Barrier Reef Isn’t Out Of The Woods Yet: Another Big Coral Bleaching Event Feared In 2017
While still recovering from the worst coral bleaching event ever in 2016, the Great Barrier Reef is likely facing another impending threat. It could undergo another widespread bleaching this year, according to the reef authority.
Trader Joe’s Voluntarily Recalls Unsweetened Apple Sauce Products Due To Potential Glass Content
Trader Joe’s has recently issued a voluntary recall of its Unsweetened Apple Sauce products due to potential glass contamination. Read on for the affected products and what might have led to the presence of glass in the products.
Back Pain Could Be Warning Sign Of Early Death: Study
A team of Australian researchers found that people who reported lower back pain had a significantly greater chance of early death compared with their peers. They used data from over 4,300 elderly Danish twins.
Neanderthal DNA Still Affects Your Health And Looks Today
Neanderthals are believed to have died out 40,000 years ago. Yet through their Neanderthal DNA, they still have a say in the health and appearance of modern humans, reminds a new study.
