Articles by Rubi Valdez
Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Diabetes And Obesity: What Are The Healthier Alternatives?
Results of a mice trials showed that artificial sweeteners change the way food is metabolized and energy is used. Dietitians highly recommend fruits to replace artificial sweeteners because it is naturally sweet and full of good calories.
Uranus Stinks: How Astronomers Determined Rotten Egg-Like Smell Of The Planet
Uranus’s stinking smell is caused by the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in its atmosphere. However, researchers said humans should worry more about suffocation and exposure to extreme cold in future descent missions.
Dry Drowning Incident In Florida: Signs To Look For And How To Avoid Dry Drowning
A toddler from Florida nearly died from aspiration pneumonia as a result of dry drowning. Doctors said that parents should rush their child to the emergency department if dry drowning is suspected.
Scientists Discover New Type Of Human DNA That Defies The Science Of Double Helix
Scientists discovered a new type of DNA that provided new information on gene structure and function. I-motifs are a four-strand twisted knot that is not exactly the shape of the double helix.
Exploding Ants Of Borneo Protect Their Colony: Other Animals With Strange Defense Mechanisms
The Borneo ant protects its colony from predators by exploding its abdomen and then killing itself in the process. Sea cucumbers also have a strange behavior, which lets them expel their organs as a defense.
Mudcracks In Mars Confirm Existence Of Lakes That Likely Dried Up Billions Of Years Ago
Scientists confirmed that the mudcracks present in Mars’s surface could prove the existence of lakes that likely have dried up approximately 3.5 billion years ago. Images of the mudcracks were sent by the Curiosity rover in 2017.
Mass-Produced Graphene Sheets On Its Way To Revolutionize Tech Products
Graphene, when produced in large quantities for commercial use, could change the production of technology products. Scientists at MIT were able to manufacture 10 meters of thin graphene rolls of high quality.
Vitamin D Deficiency Poses Greater Risk Of Diabetes, Epidemiologists Say
An epidemiology study showed that people deficient in vitamin D have increased chances of diabetes. Researchers from UCSD and Seoul University had found that low levels of vitamin D in the blood caused healthy individuals to become prediabetic or diabetic.
Mystery Death Of Oxford Dodo Revealed: How Scientists Use The Specimen To Rewrite Extinct Bird’s History
Scientists discovered the cause of death of the Oxford Dodo that had evolved in Mauritius Island in the 1600s. Dodo models were made and distributed in a number of museums in Europe and other countries to celebrate the extinct animal.
Doctors Warn Against The Use Of Cannabis In People With Sleep Apnea
Clinicians urged the Minnesota Department of Health to exclude obstructive sleep apnea in the list of conditions applicable to medical cannabis. Doctors say that the lack of sufficient evidence of cannabis’ effectiveness is a cause for concern.
Senate Confirms Jim Bridenstine As NASA Administrator 7 Months After Appointment
The U.S. space agency has welcomed a new administrator after Senate has approved Rep. Jim Bridenstine’s appointment on April 20. Bridenstine has a controversial stand on climate change.
Nanotechnologists Discover How Diamonds Bend When Turned Into Ultrafine Needles
A study showed that diamonds have the ability to stretch when it is shaped into a microscopic size. Researchers said this surprising find could transform how diamonds are used in various fields.
4-Year-Old Boy Treated With Dog Saliva: Doctors With Low Quality Scores Likely To Prescribe Homeopathic Treatments
Anke Zimmerman, a Canadian homeopath, claimed he treated 4-year-old Jonah with rabid dog saliva, but experts said it could be fatal. A study showed that doctors who prescribed homeopathic treatments scored low on their prescription performance.
‘Warming’ Of Liver Similar To Body Temperature Improves Organ Quality For Transplant
Livers kept in a warm storage like that of the metra device have reduced rates of tissue injuries compared to those preserved on ice. Surgeons said the use of metra opens up opportunities to improve organ viability prior to transplant.
Promising Gene Therapy Helps Reduce Transfusion In Patients With Blood Disorders
People with beta-thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder, could benefit from a promising gene therapy. The therapy, LentiGlobin, is reported to reduce or eliminate the need for blood transfusions in patients enrolled in Phase 1 and 2 trials.
SpaceX Takes Off With NASA Planet-Hunter TESS: How Is TESS Different From Kepler Telescope?
NASA has launched the TESS telescope on April 18 aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9. TESS is set out to focus on some 200,000 stars in search for exoplanets capable of sustaining life.
Specific Type Of Blood Pressure Drug Increases Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer In Postmenopausal Women
Pancreatic cancer is said to be the second cause of cancer-related deaths in the US around 2020. A study found that a class of antihypertensive drugs causes chronic inflammation in the body, a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
Study Links Depression to Nearly 80 Genes That Could Shed Light On The Condition
A new study suggested that depression could partly be a genetic disorder after analyzing more than 300,000 DNA datasets from 23andMe. Scientists said this widens the understanding as to why certain individuals develop this condition.
Children With Non-Chromosomal Birth Defects Have Almost Thrice The Risk Of Pediatric Cancer
Children born with congenital heart diseases and CNS abnormalities are at risk of childhood cancers. Science has improved dramatically in the treatment of common pediatric cancers including leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Millions Will Have Elevated Blood Pressure As Guidelines Lower Hypertension Reading
The updated guideline has categorized more people as hypertensive even if there were no prior diagnosis. Those with a blood pressure of at least 130/80 are classified as stage 1 hypertensive.
First Lady Barbara Bush In Failing Health, Refuses to Seek Further Treatment
Barbara Bush said she attributed her long life to the continued medical care and several operations she had undergone in the past. Despite her failing health, she remained active in her foundation that supports literacy among parents and children.
Researchers Propose New Way Of Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Without Relying On Patient Behavior
More people could be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease once a new research framework is put into practice. Scientists propose that Alzheimer’s diagnosis should be based solely on brain tests and not on behavior.
Heart Failure Study Shows Protein Blockage Could Improve Cardiac Function
An experiment conducted in mice showed that cardiovascular function can be improved just by blocking a particular protein in the heart. The therapy proved successful in mouse models, although further research is warranted in human heart cells.
Fish Oil Supplements Fail To Relieve Dry Eye Symptoms
Fish oil supplements with omega-3 fatty acids may not necessarily relieve symptoms of dry eye disease. A clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health refutes previous studies supporting its efficacy on dry eyes.
Genetics Study Indicates Sweet Potato Arrived In Polynesia Long Before American Colonization
DNA analysis of sweet potatoes in Polynesia revealed that the crop has been growing in the region long before the American colonization. The study also provides insight on how hybridization could be the answer to food security.
Burned Silicon Valley Home That Sells For $800,000 Draws Flak On Social Media
A burned house in tech hub Silicon Valley got backlash for being priced at $800,000. The realtor said the neighborhood itself is a viable investment for the would-be buyer despite the high cost of living.
Attractive Species More Likely To Go Extinct: Study
Species that have evolved to be more attractive to the opposite sex were likely to become extinct than those with typical physical traits. Species with an exaggerated physique like peacocks or triceratops attract enemies than partners.
Chemical Found In Pheromone Trails Might Not Be Produced By Ants: Study
New evidence showed that the pheromones left in ant trails are not exactly produced by ants but by bacteria. Researchers cultured the pathogens found in the ants’ gut to understand symbiosis that takes place in the human body.
Hyper-Salty Lakes Found Beneath The Canadian Arctic Could Shed Light On Extraterrestrial Life
Scientists discovered a subglacial lake underneath the Canadian ice continent that is four to five times saltier than seawater. It was reported that the surface resembles Jupiter’s Europa moon and may one day help understand extraterrestrial life conditions.
Can Humans Procreate In Space? ISS Experiment To Study Effect Of Microgravity On Sperm
Scientists believe that reproduction in space flights is a dangerous and unchartered territory in human health. NASA sent human sperm cells in ISS to study its behavior and determine if fertilization and conception are possible in a microgravity environment.
