Articles by Rubi Valdez
Colorectal Cancer Commonly Misdiagnosed In Younger Patients
Patients are likely to get treated for different conditions before they get a correct diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Symptoms resemble that of other conditions, which is why the cancer is often in the advanced stages once detected.
Nanoparticle Injection Gives Mice Night Vision To See In Infrared
An experiment enabled mice to see through near-infrared light using nanoparticles. Mammals can only process images with shorter wavelengths or those visible through the naked eye.
Moms Taking Prenatal Vitamins Early In Pregnancy Lower Baby's Risk Of Autism
Folate or folic acid supplementation prior to or early on the pregnancy helps reduce the risk of autism in high-risk groups. Children, whose older sibling has autism spectrum disorder, have greater risk of language delay and intellectual disability.
Fat Cells Have Biological Clock That Can Affect Metabolism
Human fat cells follow its own biological clock that regulates metabolism and appetite. This new finding helps scientists better understand the role of circadian rhythm in key body functions.
Mountain Pygmy Possums Starve As Main Food Source Is Almost Gone
Bogong moths thrive in caves and cracks in the Australian alpine mountains. But severe droughts have forced these insects to leave their habitat, making mountain pygmy possums hungry and unable to feed their young.
US Agencies Investigate Johnson & Johnson Over Carcinogenic Asbestos In Baby Powder
J&J knew about the asbestos contamination on its baby powder line but failed to notify the public and regulators. The company is facing another bout of inquiry from the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission.
Botswana Mulls Lifting Elephant Hunting Ban And Turning Animal's Meat Into Pet Food
Climate change forced elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search for food and water. This poses greater risks on the destruction of crops and human lives.
Killer Immune Cells Could Fight Off 3 Influenza Strains Permanently
Strains of flu virus mutate each season, making it difficult for the immune system to detect and fight off infection. A new study showed renewed hope for a universal flu vaccine that could attach all three strains of influenza virus.
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Released In High-Security Lab
Genetically modified female mosquitoes will become sterile that they no longer have the ability to bite humans. This trait will be passed on to future generations of a particular species; thus, eradicating malaria in Africa.
Hong Kong’s War On E-Cigarettes Could Soon Send Vape Offenders To Jail
Hong Kong announced it is planning to penalize e-cigarette smokers for up to six months of jail time. Vaping is a controversial topic in many topics due to limited evidence supporting its health safety and efficacy in tobacco smoking cessation.
The Great White Shark’s Decoded Genome Shows Promise In Wound And Cancer Protection
Scientists have decoded the entire great white shark genome, a groundbreaking step in the field of marine science. Analysis showed that huge-bodied sharks do not acquire cancer as frequently as humans or other animal species.
Hep C Antiviral Lowers Risks Of Premature Deaths And Liver Cancer Progression
People who test positive for chronic hepatitis C infection could benefit from direct-acting antivirals. A French study found that the treatment reduces chances of premature death and progression to liver cancer.
Rare Species Of Asteroid Zips Around The Sun In Just 165 Days
Zwicky Transient Facility astronomical survey camera found an unusual asteroid looping constantly on Venus’ orbit. Asteroid 2019 AQ3 only has 165 days of revolution around the sun compared to Venus’ 225 days.
Diabetes Pill Releases Insulin In The Gut Without Painful Injections
Researchers at MIT have developed an oral pill that can deliver insulin levels comparable to injectables. The capsule mimicked the self-orientation capability of African leopard tortoises that can blend with the shape of their environment.
Inflatable Smart Pill That Stays In Gut For A Month Could Better Track GI Disorders
A smart pill, resembling the texture and consistency of Jell-O, can track GI temperature for up to one month. The design was inspired by the defense mechanisms of pufferfish or blowfish.
WINE Spacecraft Can Propel Itself To Asteroids Using Steam Instead Of Fuel
A new type of spacecraft can extract water from planetary bodies and turn it into steam energy to propel the vehicle deeper into space. This project aims to reduce the costs related to building such technology in the future.
Can Food Allergies Be This Severe? 11-Year-Old Cameron Jean-Pierre Dies Due To Smell Of Fish Cooking
An 11-year-old boy from Brooklyn died from a severe form of an allergic reaction after smelling a fish being cooked. Experts said that hypersensitivity to food particles is increasingly becoming a problem among children.
More Americans Choose To Stay Single And Live Healthier Lifestyles, Survey Shows
More American women today choose to stay single compared to men. However, this does not necessarily mean that unmarried people have given up on love.
Dark Matter Heats Up Then Moves Away During Star Formation In Dwarf Galaxies
A new study found that dark matter can heat up and then move away from the center of galaxies. This phenomenon called dark matter heating is typical of any star-forming galaxy.
NHS’ Historic 10-Year Plan Reduces Waiting Time To Access Mental Care Services
The NHS’ expanded 10-year plan will allow young and adult citizens to access mental care services with reduced waiting period. Apart from funding, critics said the agency is faced with a difficult task to prioritize specific areas of healthcare.
Neptune-Like Exoplanet Evaporates 100 Times Faster Into The Universe’s Dark Graveyard
Exoplanets with lower atmospheric densities are more likely to lose a great portion of its mass. When planets like this evaporate, they could turn into a rocky and more massive version of the Earth.
Microscopic Signaling Chips May Pave Way To Smaller Mobile Devices With Better Functionalities
Mobile devices today have limited capabilities to transmit and receive high-frequency signals. But a new research on quantum computing showed that manipulation of phononic devices at the atomic level can drastically improve its functionality.
Supercolony Of Adélie Penguins Hidden For Millennia Discovered Because Of Birds' Pink Guano Visible From Space
The Adélie penguin is one of the two penguin species that lives on ice. Their population in the Antarctic Peninsula is threatened by habitat loss due to climate change.
Astronomers Find Ancient Galaxy Rich With Dark Matter
Astronomers proved that ancient galaxies have as much amount of dark matter as present-day galaxies. This refutes few recent studies suggesting that some galaxies have a little amount of dark matter during their birth.
Traces Of Water Found On Asteroid Bennu Open Up New Exploration Possibilities
Latest images from OSIRIS-REx spectrometers confirmed preliminary projections of Bennu’s size, rotation rate, and shape. Traces of hydroxyls were also found on the asteroid’s surface, suggesting that it might have landed on water.
Even ‘Certified’ Palm Oil Is Unsustainable: Study Reveals Misleading Claims On Eco-Friendly Practices
Deforestation rates have increased in the past decade amid the sustainability classification of major palm oil forests. Researchers urged the stakeholders to consider other alternatives to mitigate its negative effects on environment and people.
Shy People Prone To Hangover Anxiety And Have Higher Risk Of Alcohol Dependence
People who drink to ease anxiety in public are likely to experience ‘hangxiety.’ Researchers found that anxiety levels significantly increase during a hangover for very shy people.
Heavy Screen Time May Cause Premature Changes In Brain Structure Among Kids: Study
MRI scans of children who spend more than seven hours a day watching interactive media showed significant changes in their brain structure. The American Academy for Pediatrics advised that children below 18 months should avoid screen time.
Simulated CAPTCHA Solver Proves This Web Security Feature Will Soon Be Unreliable
A simulated CAPTCHA attack conducted by computer engineers from China and UK showed that websites are vulnerable and need multi-layer security. Researchers reported that website owners should consider discarding CAPTCHAs for future use.
Fluoride Used In Toothpaste Could Be Key To Longer Battery Life
The same fluoride used in toothpaste may be the future of batteries. Researchers discovered that fluoride-based batteries have a longer lifespan than lithium ions, but future work is needed to stabilize it for everyday use.
