Articles by Ted Ranosa
Faster Atomic Force Microscope Allows Scientists To Peek Into Chemical Processes At Nanoscale
A team of researchers at MIT developed a new atomic force microscope design that can scan atom-sized structures 2,000 times faster than existing models. The breakthrough technology allows scientists to observe various chemical processes on a nanoscale.
Saturn Moons Enceladus And Tethys Pose In Near-Perfect Alignment
NASA released the latest image taken by the Cassini spacecraft that shows Saturn's two well-known moons, Enceladus and Tethys, in near-perfect alignment. The photograph allows scientists to compare the relative sizes of the two natural satellites.
Australian Woman Documents Carpet Python Devouring King Parrot
A woman from Queensland, Australia photographed a carpet python gobbling up a whole king parrot outside her house. The images have been posted on the Facebook page of local snake catcher Stuart McKenzie.
Study Finds Monogamy Is Genetic (At Least In Prairie Voles)
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin discovered that some male prairie voles engage in promiscuous behavior contrary to the species' long-standing reputation as monogamous. The team believes this is caused by a hormone found in the brain of the animals.
Annual Christmas Bird Count In North America Begins
Scientists and bird watchers are expected to take part in this year's annual Christmas Bird Count organized by the National Audubon Society. The event allows researchers to collect valuable data on trends of bird populations in Canada and the United States.
San Bernardino Shooter Hinted Of Support For Islamic Jihad On Facebook But Here's Why US Missed The Warnings
Officials from federal law enforcement agencies revealed on Monday that one of the shooters in the deadly San Bernardino attacks had sent messages to her Pakistani friends through Facebook expressing her support for Islamic jihad. These private messages were not disclosed during a Senate hearing.
New Jersey Authorities Extend Black Bear Hunt By Four Days
The bear hunting season in New Jersey has been extended by four more days, according to officials from the state's fish and wildlife division. This is to allow hunters to reach the target harvest rate designated by the Department of Environmental Protection.
German Scientists Produce Helium Plasma Using Wendelstein 7-X Fusion Reactor
The Max Planck Institute has successfully produced plasma by super-heating helium using the Wendelstein 7-X machine. This breakthrough could lead to the development of cleaner and cheaper energy sources.
Watch NASA's Colorful Simulation Of Space Weather All The Way Out To Pluto
NASA has released a visualization that depicts how space weather occurs in the Pluto system. Data used to create the computer rendering was collected through the use of a scientific model known as Enlil.
Medical Experts Unsure Of Safety, Effectiveness Of Full-Body Skin Cancer Screening
Experts from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced that they were unable to provide a complete report on the effectiveness of full-body visual screening in preventing skin cancer deaths. They instead opted not to deliver any recommendations in favor or against regarding the practice.
Melting Ice Caps, Rising Sea Level Slow Down Earth's Spin
Harvard University researchers has found that the Earth's rotation on its axis has slowed during the past 100 years as a result of climate change. The melting of glaciers in the planet's poles has caused the weight of bodies of water to shift and, in turn, force the Earth to slightly wobble on its axis as well.
Texting Sets Off New Type Of Brain Wave
A new study presented during the latest American Epilepsy Society meeting has found that a previously unknown waveform occurs in the brain of individuals whenever they use smartphones. Experts believe this discovery could provide information on how the device affects the functions of the nervous system.
Studies Explore How Epilepsy Leads To Memory Decline
Four studies presented during the 69th annual conference of the American Epilepsy Society's (AES) discussed how epilepsy impacts the memory and learning competency of patients. The researchers identified certain regions of the brain significantly affected by epileptic seizures.
Negative Thoughts Speed Up Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease
A new study conducted by researchers from the Yale School of Public Health suggests that individuals who are inclined to have negative thoughts on aging experience are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life. Experts believe that stress could play a key role in the increase in disease risk.
Archaeologists Find More Than 200 Ancient Tombs In Central China
Researchers in China have unearthed an ancient burial site in Henan Province believed to be around 2,600 years old. The archaeological spot contains 30 ash pits, eight chariots and horse pits and more than 10 kilns, which date back to the Spring and Autumn period around 771 to 476 BC.
UK Officials Seize Thousands Of Hoverboards Following Incidents of Exploding Devices
British trade officers warn consumers about buying cheap but dangerous hoverboards after thousands of the devices were found to have defects during an inspection of ports in October. Faulty hoverboard batteries have resulted in product overheating and fire-related cases.
NASA Postpones Cygnus Cargo Spacecraft Launch Due To Bad Weather
NASA officials have decided to delay the launch of the Orbital ATK-made Cygnus spacecraft because of bad weather. The American space agency will attempt to have the space cargo ship blast off into space on Sunday, Dec. 6, instead of the original schedule date of Dec. 4.
New Infrared Camera Makes Greenhouse Gas Methane Visible
Researchers in Sweden have created a hyperspectral infrared camera that can measure methane levels in the environment. The revolutionary device can help scientists measure and monitor developments in detecting harmful greenhouse gases.
Fish May Also Have Emotions And Consciousness: Study
Fish experience a phenomenon called 'emotional fever' suggesting how they also have some degree of consciousness, according to a UK study. This infliction manifests in the form of slight increases in the animals' body temperature when exposed to stressful situations.
Swedish Space Instrument Measures Interaction Between Solar Wind And Moon
Researchers at the Umea University and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics have discovered the interaction between the moon and solar wind through the help of the space instrument known as SARA. The team believes that plasma flow from the sun affects water levels found in the moon's crust.
Metformin Fails To Improve Blood Sugar Control In Obese Teens With Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers from the group T1D Exchange discovered that obese or overweight teenagers with type 1 diabetes may not receive the same health benefits as type 2 diabetics do when taking the antidiabetic drug metformin. The recent study showed that early benefits from taking the drug disappeared later on in the study.
Scientists Discover New Technique To Create Diamonds At Room Temperature
North Carolina State University researchers have discovered a revolutionary process to create diamond-like structures using a new state of solid carbon known as Q-carbon. The characteristics of the material make it an ideal component for the production of new electronic displays.
Chinese Medicine To Be Trialed As Dementia Cure
Dementia patients in Australia are set to take part in a large scale clinical trial of a new herbal medicine known as Sailuotong. The drug, which contains a combination of saffron, ginkgo and ginseng, has been found to help improve blood flow to the brain and retard memory loss typically associated with dementia.
Earth's Early Ecosystem More Complex Than Thought
An international team of scientists has discovered that ancient marine organisms known as Tribrachidium were able to feed on particles in the water through a process called suspension feeding. This suggests that early large and complex creatures likely had more complicated ecosystems that what was initially thought.
Roche Drops Out Of 'Superbug' Antibiotic Project
Swiss drug maker Roche has decided to pull out from its involvement in the creation of an antibiotic meant to combat superbug-related infections. The development of the experimental drug will be continued by Roche's partner Polyphor.
Calpol Overuse May Lead To Asthma, Organ Damage
British health care experts have cautioned parents from treating mild fevers in children with paracetamol-based medicines too frequently. Overuse of the drug is now being linked to the development of serious health issues in children later in life.
Scientists Discover Fossil Of Dog-Sized Horned Dinosaur
A dinosaur expert from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom has identified a 100-year-old dinosaur fossil that was unearthed in North America's eastern portion. The specimen turned out to be from a dog-sized horned dinosaur known as a Ceratopsia, a creature that existed during the Late Cretaceous era.
Increased Carbon Dioxide Levels Lead To Rapid Plankton Growth: How This Harms The Environment
Marine scientists have detected a tenfold increase in the population of phytoplankton species in the North Atlantic from 1965 to 2010. The rapid growth rate of the marine microorganisms corresponds with an increase in carbon dioxide levels.
Massive Black Hole Swallows A Star And Vomits Bright Jet Of Leftover Stellar Material: Why You Should Care
An international team of researchers witnessed the destruction of an entire star after it was sucked into a supermassive black hole. The celestial event occurred at a galaxy located around 300 million light-years away from the Solar System.
Mars Curiosity Rover Beams New Images From Mars And Alien Hunters Spot Giant Mouse On Red Planet
NASA has unveiled the latest batch of photographs from Mars captured by the Curiosity Rover using its Navigational Cameras. The image that is getting much attention on social media, however, is the one from the spacecraft's Mast Cameras, which shows a figure that resembles a mouse.
