Articles by Katrina Pascual
Here’s Why NASA’s Space Shuttle Program Came To An End
Why did NASA give up the Space Shuttle program despite no alternative launch vehicle? Robert Frost delves on issues in funding, human resources, and changes in White House administrations as well as the advent of the Commercial Crew Program.
Here's How Chipotle Plans To Win Customers Back In 2017
After its most challenging year yet, Chipotle Mexican Grill is bent on bouncing back from E.coli outbreaks hounding its sales since late 2015. Now it's focusing its strategy on better marketing and online ordering experience.
Watch Out: Eye Injuries From Liquid Laundry Packets On The Rise Among Small Kids
A new study reveals that the number of chemical eye burns linked to laundry detergent packets, or laundry pods, has surged over 30 times among toddlers. The plastic-coated packets are often mistaken as a toy or candy.
Government Investigators Sound Alarm Over Defect In SpaceX Rocket Engines
Preliminary findings of a GAO report reflect cracks in the turbopumps of the Falcon 9 rocket, dubbing it an unacceptable risk of future manned launches. In response, SpaceX has committed to fixing the problem.
Sleep Actually Makes The Brain 'Forget,' Form New Memories
Two new studies have found that people sleep to forget certain things learned every day to pave the way for new memories every waking day. They appear to provide direct evidence of the so-called synaptic homeostasis hypothesis.
Scientists Discover 83 New Gene Variants Affecting Your Height
A new international study has found 83 new genetic variations that control human height. Some of the enormous findings: certain variations influence adult height by over 2 centimeters or nearly 8/10 of an inch.
Credit Card Theft Moves Online As Chip Technology Thwarts In-Store Criminal Efforts
Millions of credit cards in the United States have been turned into 'smart cards' or those equipped with EMV technology. Criminals, however, have easily adapted and moved their operations online.
Bacon Lovers, Rejoice: No Shortage Of Tasty Pork Treat In Sight
Last December, frozen pork belly supply in the U.S. dropped to a record low following a massive demand for bacon, but there's no need to panic because no shortage is likely to occur, pork industry representatives say.
Smokeless Tobacco Products Recalled As Sharp Metal Fragments Are Found Inside
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has voluntarily recalled some smokeless tobacco products after sharp metal objects have been found in selected cans. The FDA too is pursuing a new rule that will limit a carcinogen content in such products.
Astronaut MRIs Show How Spaceflight Alters Brain Shape
MRI scans done on more than 20 astronauts reveal new results on how microgravity can affect the human brain. The team finds, for instance, that astronauts' brains compress and expand during spaceflight.
California Truck Driver Dies From Untreated Tooth Infection
Vadim Anatoliyevich Kondratyuk was driving the route from Truckee to New York on Jan. 24 when he began to experience pain in the lower left portion of the mouth. The pain turned out to be a tooth infection fast becoming worse.
Tinder For Apes: Dutch Zoo Lets Orangutan Choose Mate On A Tablet
A Dutch zoo is launching Tinder for orangutans in a bid to find a prospective male partner for 11-year-old female Samboja. It will show her pictures of prospective partners from an international great ape breeding program.
Patients Completely Paralyzed By ALS Communicate Via Mind-Reading Device
Neuroscientists have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can facilitate communication by reading the thoughts of patients with complete paralysis. Their findings spark hope for patients of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
New Health Guidelines Make The Case Against Skipping Breakfast, Eating Late
Planning when to consume meals and snacks, along with not skipping breakfast, is linked to a healthier diet that could reduce the risk of conditions including heart disease, according to a new statement from Columbia scientists. It raises the idea of proper meal timing and mindful eating.
What Is This Extragalactic Void Pushing The Milky Way, Other Galaxies Across The Universe?
New evidence points to the extragalactic void called the Dipole Repeller as the likely key for shifting galaxies, with researchers hypothesizing that the two points are controlling the group of galaxies’ movement. There's also a push-and-pull motion happening around our galactic neighborhoods, the study says.
British Medical Association Suggests Swapping ‘Expectant Mother’ With Other Terms In Bid To Be Politically Correct
In the name of inclusive language, the British Medical Association has released new guidelines that urge the use of 'pregnant people' instead of 'expectant mothers.' This is to include intersex men and transmen in the language pertaining to pregnancy, the guidance notes.
Adult Swaddling Is All The Rage In Tokyo: This Trend Explained
In a strange new form of therapy called Otonamaki meaning 'adult wrapping,' new mothers are getting wrapped up in white cloth and rocked gently from side to side. It's a practice similar to baby swaddling and expected to bring pain relief benefits.
Fermi Gamma-Ray Telescope Finds The Most Distant Blazars Yet
Fermi's Large Area Telescope has recently detected enormous black holes shooting jets of potent gamma rays. The five distant objects known as blazars surround the mystery of how black holes formed in such a young universe.
Mobile Search, YouTube Drive Alphabet’s Strong Q4 Growth
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has reported a total revenue of $26.1 billion, a 22 percent rise over 2015’s $21.33 billion revenue. Mobile search and YouTube surface as its primary growth drivers.
Kids Are Closer To Pets Than Their Own Siblings: Study
University of Cambridge researchers examine children’s relationship with their pets and find that they derived more satisfaction from animal companions and got along better with them than with their siblings. These pets may then wield a great influence on kids’ development.
Space Travel May Lead To Gene Changes, NASA Twin Study On Astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly Reveals
NASA has released early results from its unprecedented Twin Study, which probes the genetic differences between astronaut Scott Kelly and his identical twin Mark. The findings reveal that spaceflight may lead to certain changes in genetic expression.
Thanks To Al Gore, Climate Change Summit Is Back On Track
Former vice president Al Gore has stepped in to host his own climate change conference in Atlanta next month. The news comes days after the CDC canceled its own summit in the lead-up to the recent change in White House administrations.
Mumps Outbreak Hits Washington, Nearly 300 Cases Reported
The Washington state has reported 278 confirmed and likely cases of mumps in five counties since October. Health officials urge everyone to get protected through the MMR vaccine.
Dentist Faces Court Rap Over Death Of Teen During Wisdom Tooth Removal
A family in Minnesota is now finally filing charges against a dentist for the death of their daughter during routine wisdom tooth removal. It was a change of heart as they have formerly expressed no intention to sue the doctor for malpractice.
31 Years After Challenger Explosion: Timeline Of A Space Shuttle Disaster
It's been 31 years since the Challenger mission of NASA exploded 73 seconds after liftoff. Here is a quick timeline of the events that led to one of the most searing tragedies of spaceflight.
Woman Goes 6 Days Without Lungs In Doctors’ Bid To Save Her Life
Doctors in Canada recall how they were forced to remove a young mother’s lungs for six days while she waited for an organ transplant. The last-ditch procedure is considered a world first.
Baby Dolphin Dies On Argentina Beach As Tourists Seek Selfies
Argentinean paper La Capital reports another animal death from tourist selfies. Tourists have been seen dragging a baby dolphin from the waters of San Bernardo, located around 200 miles south of Buenos Aires.
As Early As Age 6, Girls Are Less Likely To Feel Brilliant Than Boys
Six-year-old girls are less likely than boys to believe their gender is poised for brilliance, and they instead tend to veer away from activities that require those smarts. These are some findings of a new study that probes how far back those gender perceptions set in.
Starbucks Sales Remain Slow, And Congestion In Stores May Be To Blame
Lower than expected Starbucks sales growth has been disclosed on Jan. 26, with part of the blame pinned on congestion inside stores that push some customers to leave without a purchase. Blame it on mobile order-and-pay, too.
D-Wave’s 2,000-Qubit Quantum Computer Sells For $15 Million For Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity
Canadian quantum computing company D-Wave has announced the commercial availability of its D-Wave 2000Q, touted to have 2,000 qubits and costing $15 million. The new supercomputer also wins its first customer in the form of a cybersecurity firm.
