Articles by Katrina Pascual
These Scientific Discoveries, Breakthroughs Can Potentially Change Our World
Many scientific discoveries shook the world in 2015. But there are major breakthroughs still needed to transform various fields, such as space exploration, cancer treatment, biodiversity, and improved healthcare.
Frozen Oil Holds Clue To Shapeshifting Materials
Oil droplets in a soapy solution shifted shapes, from triangles and octagons to hexagons and fibers, when frozen and return to their original shape once the solution is re-warmed. These new findings are found promising in the arena of materials science.
Heart Disease Study Hopes To Find Best Time For Cardiac Surgery
A new British study aims to optimize time of heart surgery to maximize the results of intervention while minimizing patient risks. It will focus on patients of aortic stenosis, the most common heart valve disease.
90-Year-Old Tennessee Man Reflects On Long Struggle With Sexuality
In 2000, Hector Black made headlines when he forgave the man who brutally murdered and raped his daughter Patricia. Now, he reveals in an interview his story of coming out as a gay man 20 years ago at age 70.
Salmonella Can Survive In Holiday Cookies For Up To Six Months
Salmonella and other pathogenic bugs can survive for at least six months in holiday cookies and crackers. This is surprising news for researchers, as salmonella contamination more typically occurs in high-moisture foods, not dry goods such as these holiday treats.
Work-Related Illness Kills More People Than Guns: Study
Work-related disease kills 50,000 every year, compared to guns that take more than 30,000 lives. Asbestos exposure remains a leading scourge, with victims also having to fight their way through state or federal compensation claims.
Deadliest Landslide In US Not Random Occurrence: Dating Method Shows Oso Landslide Occurs Every 500 Years
The massive Oso landslide in 2014 likely happens every 500 years, not thousands of years past as previously believed. With knowledge of previous slides' chronology aiding in regional risk analysis, it's not so much of an anomaly, researchers said.
Iron Age Settlement In Norway Shows Vikings Had Soft Spot For Delicate Glass, Amber Beads
Archaeologists at Ørland, Norway's Main Air Station, dug up glass shards, beads, bones, and garbage tracing from 1,500 years ago. The finds from Iron Age longhouses suggested that the residents loved their bling.
Russia Warming 2.5 Times Faster Than World Average
Russian environment ministry revealed that the country is warming two times as fast as the world’s average. Experts also sounded the alarm on the effects of global warming on the Siberian permafrost and the onset of unusual winters.
Nursing Home Workers Post Photos Of Naked, Abused Patients On Snapchat
An investigative report revealed disturbing cases of nursing home abuses, with workers sharing photos or videos of patients on social media including Snapchat. The review disclosed 35 cases of this form of privacy violation in nursing homes since 2012.
Sit-Ups Are Outdated And Need To Be Replaced By More Relevant Exercises: Experts
Sit-ups had fallen out of favor due to lower back injury risks and their ability to work only a limited set of muscles. The U.S. Navy, for instance, is planning to ditch this routine and replace it with the plank pose and other more effective abdominal exercises.
9-Year-Old Boy With Brain Tumor Has Testicular Tissue Frozen To Restore Fertility In The Future
John Radcliffe Hospital surgeons removed and froze part of a 9-year-old brain tumor patient's testicular tissue for future reimplantation. Testicular tissue freezing is hoped to be as effective as ovarian tissue freezing, which had produced live births for women.
Newly Discovered Giant Comets Threaten Life On Earth: Astronomers
The impact from a centaur strike may be a bigger threat to Earth than previously thought, warned researchers. These giant comets cross the paths of massive outer planets and can hurtle toward Earth.
Too Much Caffeinated Soft Drinks Can Kill: Man In Japan Dies Of Caffeine Intoxication
A forensic probe showed that a Japanese man in his 20s died from caffeine overdose after his constant use of caffeinated soft drinks to ward off fatigue. Caffeine intoxication is also a real threat to Americans, according to studies.
China Receives Message From Dark Matter Probe Satellite DAMPE
Last Sunday, China’s ground stations received data from its first satellite tasked to probe dark matter. DAMPE satellite transmitted quality data in the right format as reported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is launching four other space missions.
Secret Of How Birds Never Gray May Pave Way To Clothes That Do Not Fade
Thanks to their spongy feather nanostructure based on light manipulation and not mere dyes and pigments, blue jays never turn gray even with aging. Could this be a key in making non-fading paint and fabric colors in the future?
US Task Force Backs Use Of Statin In Adults With Increased Heart Disease Risks
USPSTF endorsed low to moderate doses of statins to prevent first-time heart attack or stroke in high-risk adults ages 40 to 75. Its new recommendations for statin treatment are considered close enough to controversial 2013 guidelines from the AHA and ACC.
Same-Sex Couples Could Have Biological Children In The Future
A new analysis highlighted in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) for human reproduction, particularly for same-sex couples. However, mounting scientific, social, and legal considerations will have to be addressed before the technology becomes a practical reality.
New Video Pill Is Swallowable Camera That Can Detect Throat, Gut Cancers
Video pills can now potentially detect the presence of throat and gut cancers, with small sensing systems lighting up patients' innards using an extremely tiny light source. It's enhanced fluorescence imaging, according to University of Glasgow researchers.
French Women Most Likely To Fake An Orgasm: Survey
A poll showed that 31 percent of French women - followed by American and British women - were most likely to fake it with their current partner. Experts also pointed to the prevalence of vaginal penetration in women's struggle to reach climax regularly or at all.
Sleeping Pills Taken For Insomnia May Help People Recover From Stroke
Sleeping pill Ambien enhanced mice's recovery from stroke and regaining of pre-stroke sensory ability and motor coordination. About 800,000 Americans suffer from stroke each year.
Extinction Of Large Animals Could Worsen Climate Change
The decline and extinction of large animals will eventually lead to a decline in large hardwood trees. This defaunation trend will hurt the world's fight against climate change, warned researchers.
Drug Overdose Deaths Hit New Record High: CDC
Drug overdose deaths hit record level in 2014, according to a new CDC report. Fatalities from opioid and heroin abuse, for instance, reached an alarming 14 percent increase in only a year.
Here Are The Top US Cities For LGBT Rights
Forty-seven U.S. cities, including Jersey City, San Diego and Louisville, obtained a perfect score in the Municipality Equality Index of a national gay rights group. The four-year annual list ranks U.S. cities in LGBT rights and inclusivity.
Restricted Eating Stimulates Hunger Hormone Ghrelin To Increase Appetite
Experimental rats with restricted feeding schedules learned to eat more as assisted the hunger hormone ghrelin. Previous research emphasized ghrelin's ability to increase both circadian and external cues in increasing food intake and therefore driving obesity.
Gene Editing Technique CRISPR-Cas9 Named Scientific Breakthrough Of The Year 2015
Gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas9 emerged as Science magazine’s 2015 Breakthrough of the Year. It beat the Pluto mission this year in the tilt, and even prompted an international gene editing summit this month.
Face Cream Ingredient May Help Slow Down Aging
Allantoin, a common ingredient in facial creams and other skin care products, increased lifespan in worms by over 20 percent. Allantoin is seen to work in a way similar to the anti-aging benefits of calorie restriction.
Camel Study Unveils MERS Patterns And Vaccine Potentials
A new study found five variants of MERS-CoV circulating between humans and camels, with Arabian camels likely to contain the virus than imported ones. Separate research found potential in an experimental MERS-CoV vaccine for camels.
FDA Approves Eli Lilly's Drug Basaglar For Diabetes Treatment
Basaglar diabetes drug is a long-acting, man-made human insulin therapy recently approved by the FDA. It is made by Eli Lilly in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim as a cheaper version of Sanofi's Lantus drug.
Kids Who Can Taste Sugar At Lower Concentration Likely To Be Overweight
A Monell Center study found that overweight or obese children had a greater sugar sensitivity than other kids. This broke the prevailing belief that the obese would need higher sugar amounts to achieve the same sweet pleasure.
