Articles by Rebecca Kaplan
Octopus-inspired scientists develop camouflage material for military
A team of researchers have developed a new automatic camouflage technology, based on the incredible way octopi's skin reacts to light and the changes in its environment.
Whale meandering through river in VA may be very sick
A whale has been spotted in a Virginia river, acting erratically. The whale seems to be sick, scientists say.
ISS astronauts venture outside for spacewalk
Two Russian astronauts on the ISS released a nanosatellite today on a five-hour spacewalk. The Peruvian satellite will measure and record temperature and pressure conditions.
Over 4 million patients’ info stolen in Community Health hack
The social security numbers of over 4 million patients at Community Health Systems were stolen on August 18 by a skilled hacker group based in China.
Pangolin and star tortoise rapidly disappearing under India's poaching threat
Conservationists say the Indian government, though focusing more on preventing poaching of well-known animals like elephants and tigers, is not doing enough to protect lesser-known animals like the pangolin or the star tortoise. Those species are rapidly dropping in number and may face extinction if immediate action is not taken.
Parasitic plant uses RNA-based communication technique
A researcher recently discovered one of the secrets of how parasitic weeds communicate with their host plants -- mRNA.
New Hampshire gets Smacked! Governor declares state of emergency
The governor of New Hampshire recently declared a state of emergency as the state deals with artificial cannabinoids known as "synthetic marijuana." This drug is currently being sold in stores as "spice," despite DEA legislation branding the chemicals as controlled substances.
FDA approves Plegridy for multiple sclerosis treatment
The FDA approved a new treatment for MS called Plegridy this week. The drug is produced by company Biogen, which also has several other MS drugs on the market.
Teen’s organ donations rejected because of sexual orientation
A grief-stricken mother learned today that one of her son's organ donations had been rejected because of FDA regulations banning organ and blood donations from gay donors.
Venus and Jupiter will cozy up to each other on Monday night in a planetary dance
Early in the morning on Monday August 18, Venus and Jupiter will seem almost close enough to touch, and their combined glow will appear like a "double star." This dazzling display is best seen through a telescope or binoculars in the eastern US or in Europe.
Cygnus ship leaves ISS with 3,500 lbs of garbage
The Cygnus spacecraft launched a month ago by Orbital Sciences was detached on August 15, filled with 3,500 pounds of garbage. It will be guided through re-entry on Earth, where it will safely burn up.
We're to blame for the melting glaciers, study says
A new study provides strong evidence showing that humans caused about 66 percent of decrease in global glacier mass since 1990.
Arctic snow layer is thinning at rapid rate, researchers confirm
Snow in the Arctic region is thinning rapidly, a new study conducted by NASA and University of Washington researchers found.
Egyptian mummification began a thousand years earlier than we thought
New research suggests that the genesis of mummification in ancient Egypt may have happened 1,500 years before it was previously thought to have happened.
Divers hunt for 270-ton bell in the Myanmar river, missing for centuries
A team of 70 people, including 10 "sea gypsies" who can dive deeply without the aid of breathing apparatuses, began the search again this week for a fabled 270-ton bell lost in the Myanmar river hundreds of years ago.
Hemp beats out graphene for high-performance energy storage
Scientists have discovered a new way to use hemp fibers to create electrodes that can more efficiently fuel supercapacitors than graphene, what was previously thought to be the top contender.
Chile may be on brink of mega earthquake
Northern Chile should be expecting a massive earthquake, scientists warn in a new research study published today.
Three stars gobbled up by supermassive black hole
Scientists uncover three stars possibly devoured by a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
Blame the trapped air waves and Arctic warming for the extreme-weather events
A new research study suggests a possible explanation that ties the increase in extreme weather events to climate change. Changing wind patterns following the melting Arctic ice may be to blame, scientists say.
Perseid meteor shower to grace tonight’s sky, if clouds don’t crash the party
If you missed the Perseid meteor shower yesterday, try to catch it tonight. The biggest meteor shower of the year will shine at its brightest from 3-4 a.m. tonight at your local time.
Test tube penguin at SeaWorld is adorable and the first of its kind
A baby penguin born at SeaWorld, the first of its kind to be conceived via artificial insemination, is now three months old. The penguin is healthy, happy, and very cute.
Antarctic ‘icequakes’ were magnified by Chilean earthquake 3,000 miles away
A new research study done at the Georgia Institute of Technology uncovers a connection between a 2010 Chilean earthquake and "icequakes" in Antarctica, 3,000 miles away.
Researchers dump oil into North Sea to study effects of oil spills
A research group at EPFL intentionally spilled oil into the North Sea to study the way hydrocarbons were released in the first 24 hours after a spill. They hope to use this information to create better spill clean up methods in the future.
Pot of coffee may help prevent tinnitus
Research suggests that drinking four to six cups of coffee a day may cut tinnitus risk among women by 15%.
Massive red tide bloom may spell doom for Florida coast
Researchers expect that the red tide bloom in Florida, a toxic bloom of algae, will likely wash ashore to beaches in Tampa within the next two weeks.
New cancer classification system may revolutionize diagnoses and treatments
A new research study compiled based on data from the Cancer Genome Atlas's Pan-Cancer project shows that the key to cancer treatment and classification may be rooted in genetics, not the tissue of origin.
FDA eases on Ebola drug restrictions, Tekmira stock jumps
Stocks in pharmaceutical company Tekmira soared on Friday after the FDA announced that it had cleared their experimental Ebola drug for potential use in humans. Investors rushed to buy stock in the company in light of the worsening outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.
Go with your gut, its bacteria can predict colon cancer
A new study shows that testing for bacterial makeup of the colon may be a more conclusive way of catching precancerous polyps that develop into colorectal cancer, giving scientists a less invasive way to screen effectively for colon cancer.
Drench yourself in ice water--it's for a good cause
A new craze is sweeping social media -- for a good cause. Celebrities and ordinary citizens are drenching themselves in ice water to raise awareness and funds for sufferers of ALS.
Fighter jet snaps shot of hell on earth above California wildfires
A NASA satellite picked up a rare photo of a pyrocumulonimbus cloud, or fire cloud, in early August over a severe forest fire along the California-Oregon border. It also snapped one of an even larger cloud in Canada's Northern Territories.
