Articles by Rhodi Lee
10-Foot Gator Killed After Biting Florida Woman Standing In Waist-Deep Water
An alligator measuring almost 11 feet bit a woman in Florida while she was wading in waist-deep water. What causes increasing incidences of alligator attacks?
Astronomers Find Water Clouds Outside Solar System For The First Time
Astronomers found evidence that the brown dwarf WISE 0855 has atmospheric water vapor and clouds. The object has water absorbing features similar to what was observed in Jupiter's atmosphere.
Bolts Connecting Underwater Oil Wells Are Failing
Bolts that are used to secure subsea oil equipment are failing, raising the possibility of major oil leaks. What is causing the bolts to corrode and snap?
Feds Ban Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes From Running Lab For Two Years
Federal regulators banned Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes from running a medical laboratory for two years. They also revoked the certification of the blood-testing start-up's California laboratory.
2016 Set To Be A Long Year: Leap Second To Be Added To World's Clocks On New Year's Eve
The IERS, which keeps track of the world's time, announced that a leap second will be added on New Year's eve. Here's why.
Light-Guided Cyborg Stingray Powered By Living Rat Cells May Lead To Better Artificial Heart
The toenail-sized robotic stingray is powered by genetically-altered rat cells so that it follows a light source. How can this cyborg pave the way for better artificial hearts?
Boston Cab Driver Turns In $187K Passenger Left Behind In His Taxi
A 72-year old Boston cab driver turned in to the police $187,000 in cash left behind by a passenger. The man who lost the money is a recovering drug addict and has been homeless for a long time.
Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Need Genetic Testing: Why?
Men with metastatic prostate cancer should consider getting genetic testing. Results may benefit not just them but also their family members.
Consumers Often Buy Sunscreens That Fall Short Of Safety Standards Set By Dermatologists
Sunscreen products provide protection against the damaging rays of the sun. Unfortunately, 40 percent of the top-rated sunscreens on Amazon.com failed to meet the standards set by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Super Bacteria Found In Rio Olympics Venues: Should Tourists, Athletes Be Worried?
Scientists in Brazil have found super bacteria CRE in the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, where Olympic games are set to take place. The superbug can cause gastrointestinal, pulmonary and bloodstream infections.
Study Reveals Effective Way To Get Children To Eat Vegetables
Many children do not like to eat vegetables. A study involving elementary school students revealed how to get kids to make healthier food choices.
Microorganisms Chase Each Other In Real-Life 'Pac-Man' Game [Video]
Researchers in Norway came up with a three-dimensional maze that features microorganisms that either function as 'Pac-Man' or the carnivorous ghosts. What is the purpose of this real-life 'Pac-Man' game?
NASA Pluto Probe New Horizons To Fly By Another Object In The Kuiper Belt
2014 MU69 is believed to be one of the first building blocks of the Solar System and may shed light on planetary accretion. NASA's New Horizons is set to visit this icy Kuiper belt object by 2019.
Montreal Protocol Pays Off: Antarctic Ozone Layer Shows Signs Of Healing
The Antarctic ozone hole shows signs of shrinking. Scientists said the healing of the ozone layer could be primarily attributed to a 1987 international treaty that sought to ban CFCs and similar substances.
Heart Problem Behind Many Sudden Deaths Among Minority Athletes
The rate of sudden cardiovascular death among athletes belonging to minority groups is five times higher than those of whites. Many of these cases are due to a genetic heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
FDA Approves Gilead Drug That Can Treat All Forms Of Hepatitis C Virus
FDA green-lighted the first drug that can treat all major forms of the viral disease hepatitis C. How effective is Gilead's Epclusa and how much does it cost?
Dinosaur-Era Wings Preserved In Amber Reveal Ancient Birds Were Almost Fully Developed When Hatched
A pair of well-preserved wings that belonged to Enantiornithes was found encased in an amber mined in Myanmar. The wings revealed that the ancient birds were almost fully developed when they were hatched.
Tour De France To Use Thermal Cameras To Detect 'Mechanical Doping'
The Union Cycliste Internationale will use a high-tech system to prevent cheating in the world's most famous cycling race. It will employ manual bike checks and use thermal cameras to ensure that no Tour de France rider gets an unfair advantage.
Diet Pepsi Classic Brings Back Sweetener Aspartame Despite Health Concerns
Pepsi replaced aspartame in its Diet Pepsi last year due to the sweetener's cancer link. What prompted the beverage company to reintroduce the controversial ingredient?
Many Americans Clueless About Chemicals Present In Cigarette Smoke
Cigarette smoking remains to be a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. but a new survey revealed many Americans are clueless about the chemicals present in cigarette smoke and tobacco products. Many of these are toxic and carcinogenic.
Electric Shocks Reduce Fats In Chocolate, Make Treat Healthier
Sending electric shocks to cocoa particles improves the flow of liquid chocolate without the need for extra cocoa butter. The process can reduce chocolate's fat content by up to 20 percent.
Volcanic Eruption Warning Sign: Active Volcanoes Become Silent Before They Erupt
A period of quiet may indicate that an active volcano is about to blow up. The duration of this silent period also predicts the amount of energy the impending volcanic eruption will release.
Archaeologists Find Human Skeletons, Gold Coins In Ancient Pompeii Shop Ruins
Archaeologists discovered four human skeletons and gold coins in the ruins of an ancient shop in Pompeii. The remains belong to people who died when Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79.
Insects Are World’s First Farmers: Termites Started Farming About 25 Million Years Before Human Agriculture
The oldest fossil evidence of agriculture shows that termites started to tap on farming millions of years before humans did. How did farming impacted the evolution of these social insects?
Texas Woman Returns Home From Jaw Surgery With British Accent: What Causes 'Foreign Accent Syndrome'?
Lisa Alamia, who was born and raised in Texas, started to speak with British accent after she underwent a jaw surgery six months ago. What causes her condition known as foreign accent syndrome?
Is There Life After Death? Hundreds Of Zombie Genes Come Alive After Life Ends
Among the genes that become active after death are developmental genes that sculpt embryos and those that promote cancer. Does this mean dead organisms can be brought back to life?
Patient Position During Breast MRI May Influence Success Of Tumor Removal During Lumpectomy
Breast cancer patients often lie face down during MRI scans but lie face up during lumpectomy. How does the patient's position during presurgical MRI affect success of tumor removal?
Sudden Cardiac Death Kills Young People Without Prior Symptoms: Can It Be Prevented?
Genetic mutation linked with unexplained cases of sudden cardiac death among young people can be passed on to the next generation. How can this finding help save lives?
This Ultra-Thin Solar Cell Is So Flexible It Can Wrap Around A Pencil
An ultra-thin solar photovoltaic cell developed by scientists in South Korea is so flexible it can wrap around virtually any surface. What are its potential applications?
Caribbean Sea Whistles Sound That Can Be Detected From Space: What Causes This Noise?
The Caribbean Sea produces a whistle-like sound so powerful its signature can be detected by satellites in space. What produces the low-pitched noise in this part of the Atlantic Ocean?
