Articles by Ted Ranosa
Amusement Park Safety Under Scrutiny After Recent String Of Accidents
A recent string of theme park ride-related accidents over the past five days has renewed calls for better safety regulations. Experts urge the government to provide more oversight for amusement and water parks in the country.
Combating Zika: Floridians Plan Protest At Bug Board Over Release Of GMO Mosquitoes
Florida Keys residents are planning to conduct a demonstration at the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board office on Tuesday, Aug. 16, to protest a move to introduce millions of genetically modified mosquitoes in their community. The aim for the GMO mosquitoes is to combat Zika.
Health Researchers Begin Clinical Trials For Experimental Zika Vaccine
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have launched an early-stage clinical trial for an experimental Zika virus vaccine. The testing will be conducted in different NIH sites in the United States.
Climate Scientists Say 2015 Set Record Highs For Global Heat, Sea Level
The NOAA has released its State of the Climate report, which combines the observations of 450 scientists on various climate factors. The document shows the record highs set for global temperatures, sea level and greenhouse gases in 2015.
Wealthier Households Have More Diverse Insect Populations
Scientists at UC Berkley found that richer households tend to have more diverse populations of insects indoors than poorer homes. This phenomenon may have something to do with the presence of more green spaces in affluent houses.
Washington Scientist Intends To Scan, Digitize All Fish In The World
A biology professor in Washington has begun scanning and digitizing images of various types of fish. His goal is to create a clearinghouse for morphological information on every known species of fish in the world.
Breastfeeding Newborns Within First Hour Of Life Lowers Death Risk: UNICEF
UNICEF warns that as many as 77 million newborns in the world are not breastfed by their mothers within the first hour of life. This leaves them more likely to die as they are deprived of vital nutrients and antibodies.
NASA Grants Second ISS Crew Mission Order To SpaceX
NASA has ordered a second crew delivery mission to the International Space Station from SpaceX. The mission order is the fourth and final one under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contracts the space agency has with the company.
Obama Signs GMO Labeling Law
U.S. President Barack Obama signed a new law that would require food companies to indicate whether their products have been made using genetically modified ingredients.
SpaceX Test Fires Used Falcon 9 Rocket For The First Time [Video]
American space company SpaceX successfully test fired one of its previously used Falcon 9 rockets on Thursday (July 28). The rocket booster was used during the launch of a Japanese communications satellite back in May.
Inbreeding Endangers The English Bulldog's Health: Study
If inbreeding has placed the English bulldog's health in danger, how then can breeders save the canine? Researchers suggest crossbreeding.
North American Forests May Not Be The Remedy For Climate Change As Expected: Study
A new study suggests that forests in North America may not produce the same level of climate change mitigation as initially thought. The researchers weren't able to see any evidence of a greening effect that other scientists had hoped for.
Phytoplankton Bloom Causing New Jersey Waters To Turn Aquamarine
The presence of phytoplankton populations has caused the waters around New Jersey's southern coast to become aquamarine. Experts also noted that the ocean in the area has also become clearer than usual.
Scientists Discover New Devilish-Looking Orchid In Colombia
Scientists have identified a new species of orchid growing on a small patch of land between two departments in southern Colombia. The new plant is known for its reddish to dark maroon bloom with a distinct devil-shaped heart.
Jet Lag Is Worse For People Flying East: Study
A new study suggests that people who crossed different time zones traveling eastward suffer from jet lag more than those going west. Researchers believe this has connected to how the brain is able to operate the body's biological clock.
Climate Change May Be Pushing Clouds To The Poles
Climate scientists have identified a dramatic change in the Earth's cloud patterns since the 1980s that may have been caused by the ongoing global warming event. They found that clouds in mid-latitudes have now shifted toward the planet's poles.
Amazon Prime Day: Amazon Rivals Target, Sears And Walmart Set To Offer Big Discounts On Same Day
Amazon is facing stiff competition from its chief rivals this year as Target, Sears and Walmart are all launching their own discount deals to match the popular online store's offers for Amazon Prime Day.
West Nile Detected In California
Three cases of West Nile virus infections have been detected in California since the start of July. Officials said the latest of these infections was found in a dead bird recovered in Santa Cruz County.
EPA Finds Dangerously High Sulfur Dioxide Levels In Louisiana Parish
Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that they have detected high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana. Facilities in the area have been given until 2018 to meet federal standards on SO2 pollution.
Hawaii County Opens Emergency Road For Visitors To View Lava Flow
Tourists can now witness the lava flow oozing from Kīlauea after Hawaii County officials opened the emergency access road to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for sightseeing. The road is open to visitors from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
NASA's Dawn Spacecraft To Stay At Dwarf Planet Ceres
The Dawn spacecraft is set to remain in Ceres' orbit after plans to have the probe extend its mission to another asteroid were rejected by NASA planners. The proposed mission would have sent it to the 145 Adeona asteroid.
El Niño Phenomenon Could Cause More Fires In The Amazon This Year
Researchers from NASA and the University of California, Irvine warn that the El Niño phenomenon is causing the Amazon to become more susceptible to wildfires this year. Satellite readings show that the region is at its driest point since 2002.
Texas Train Crash: 3 People Missing, 1 Injured In Freight Train Collision In Texas
Three crew members are missing and one was injured when two freight trains collided near Panhandle, Texas on June 28. The crash also caused the trains' cars and containers to be derailed and scattered some 400 yards from the collision site.
Stephen Hawking Says Greed, Stupidity Are Greatest Threats To Humanity
Famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking shared his thoughts on the problems currently plaguing humanity during his interview with Larry King on 'Larry King Now.' He said stupidity and greed are two of the biggest threats to mankind right now.
Oakland Park Officials Close Down Lake Temescal Due To Toxic Algae Bloom
Officials from the East Bay Regional Park closed down Lake Temescal to swimmers on Monday because of the presence of toxic algae in the water. This is the third consecutive year the lake has been closed due to algal blooms.
UK Set To Adopt Plan For Carbon Emissions Reduction This Week
Britain is poised to adopt a proposal this week on how it can cut down fossil fuel-related pollution by 2030. This would allow the country to reduce its carbon emissions by 57 percent below levels set in 1990.
Star Trek's Enterprise Makes Its Way From Smithsonian Basement To Main Atrium
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is moving the Star Trek Enterprise from its basement gift shop to its central atrium. The starship replica is set to be featured as part of the museum's 40th birthday celebration.
Shark Attack: North Carolina Boy Bitten By Shark While Surfing At Atlantic Beach
A young boy who was surfing at a beach in North Carolina was attacked by a shark Saturday, June 25. Rescuers said the victim sustained multiple deep wounds on his left foot, though none of them were life-threatening.
Kansas School Crisis: State Legislators Approve School Funding Plan
Kansas legislators have adopted a new plan to address the state's current issues with providing educational aid to public schools. The measure allocates an additional $38 million to fund poorer school districts in the state.
Florida Wildlife Officials Vote To Postpone Bear Hunting in 2016
Wildlife commissioners in Florida have voted not to conduct a state-sanctioned bear hunt this year. Despite the pause, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission chairman Brian Yablonski said it doesn't necessarily mean that hunting goes away forever.
