Articles by Ted Ranosa
Experts Say Incoming Space Debris In November Provides Opportunity For Scientific Research
Astronomers and other experts have begun conducting observations of the space object designated as WT1190F as it nears the Earth. They believe the piece of debris, which is set to hit the Earth on Nov. 13, provides researchers with an opportunity to carry out scientific studies on such objects from space.
New Climate Study Forecasts Intolerable Heat For Middle East: How This Could Affect Hajj Later In The Century
People who will take part in the Islamic pilgrimage known as the Hajj in the coming years may face continually increasing temperatures because of global warming, according to a new climate study. Experts warn that even those living in well-ventilated areas around the Persian Gulf could still suffer from intolerable heat.
Study Shows Kicking Alcohol For A Month May Prevent Serious Illness Later In Life
Researchers at the University College London have discovered that people who take a month-long break from drinking alcoholic beverages experience health improvements including better liver function and lower cholesterol levels. These individuals were also less likely to develop diabetes and liver disease.
Euthanasia Supporter Dr. Philip Nitschke Banned From Giving Advice On Assisted Suicide
The Medical Board of Australia has imposed 25 strict conditions on voluntary euthanasia campaigner Dr. Philip Nitschke. The restrictions are designed to effectively prevent Nitschke from providing advice or information to patients on how to carry out assisted suicide.
Health Officials Look To Fall Break To Help Stop Norovirus Outbreak In Nevada Schools
The Washoe County health district in Nevada is anticipating the scheduled school break in the fall to help allow students and staff members infected with the norovirus to recover during the recommended 72-hour period. The break will also help prevent the spread of the infection to other individuals.
Invasive Emerald Ash Borer Threatens Forests In Duluth
The Department of Agriculture of Minnesota reports that specimens of emerald ash borers have been found in ash trees located in Duluth's Park Point. These highly destructive beetle species now threatens thousands of boulevard trees and millions of acres of ash trees in the area.
Can Yelp Help? Health Officials Keep Track Of Food Poisoning Outbreaks Through Social Media
Reviews posted on the social media website Yelp helped spread news about the Shigella outbreak that occurred in a restaurant in California. Some experts believe such review sites could serve as a form of early warning system to prevent people from becoming victimized of similar instances.
Borrelia Miyamotoi: What You Need To Know About This 'New Lyme Disease'
Researchers have discovered a new type of bacterial infection that shares similar symptoms with Lyme disease. The new illness, caused by the Borrelia miyamotoi bacteria, is spread through bites from ticks and has been found to be resistant to antibiotics.
The Oprah Effect: TV Mogul Winfrey Acquires 10 Percent Stake In Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers announced that billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey has purchased a 10 percent stake in the diet company in a move that is considered to help turn the tide for its stocks. However, some market analysts believe Winfrey's popularity alone will not be enough to guarantee success for the weight loss firm.
Study Finds Crocodiles 'Keep An Eye Out' To Stay Safe During Sleep: 3 Other Animals With Unusual Sleep Behaviors
A team of scientists in Australia have found that crocodiles engage in a sleeping behavior known as unihemispheric sleep wherein they keep a watchful eye open during rest. Other members of the animal kingdom are also known to carry out unusual sleep behaviors that may have evolved out of necessity.
Researchers Use Gene Editing To Produce Red Blood Cells In Laboratory
By editing a specific gene known as SH2B3, researchers were able to manufacture high amounts of red blood cells in a laboratory setting. The generated red blood cells were essentially indistinguishable from those produced within the human body.
Amgen's Virus-Based Cancer Drug Wins Green Light From EU Regulators
Drug regulators from the European Medicines Agency have issued a recommendation for the approval of Amgen's virus-based cancer treatment, T-Vec. If approved by the European Commission, T-Vec would become the first drug in a class of novel agents called oncolytic immunotherapies.
How A Woman Was Able To Smell Parkinson's: The Science Of Detecting Diseases Through The Sense of Smell
The ability of a woman in Scotland to detect the scent of Parkinson's disease in her husband has led researchers to investigate the potential of using the sense of smell to diagnose malignancies in patients. A study is now being conducted to find out if dogs can be used to identify the odor of prostate cancer in samples of human urine.
Obama Announces US Will Tackle Heroin, Prescription Drug Abuse
President Obama has outlined a plan to address the increasing number of heroin and prescription drug abuse victims. He said they will accomplish this by providing better access to drug treatments and training more doctors on the safe prescription of painkillers.
Obama Administration Pushing To Secure Paris Climate Deal
Officials at the White House have reaffirmed the Obama administration's goal of securing a definitive climate deal at the upcoming Paris talks in December. The U.S. government believes its goal to curb global warming depends on its ability to convince world leaders to agree on the deal.
How The Mediterranean Diet Boosts Brain Health: 4 Healthy Must-Try Dishes
Researchers at Columbia University in New York have discovered that individuals who follow the Mediterranean diet benefit from better protection against degenerative brain diseases. Here are four simple and easy-to-prepare dishes to start off a Mediterranean diet.
Carbon Nanotubes Found In Lungs Of French Children: What You Need To Know About This Potentially Harmful Material
Researchers at the University of Paris-Saclay have found traces of carbon nanotubes in the lungs of French children with asthma. Experts believe these microscopic materials have the potential to trigger similar immune reactions in humans caused by exposure to asbestos.
Sperm Donor Children Are Fine Even Without Fathers, Cambridge Study Says
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that both mothers who had depended on sperm banks to conceive and their children do not suffer from the absence of a father in their families. Their study showed no indication that the lack of a father was damaging to how these children adjust to their environment.
Human Hunting Or Climate Change? New Study Reveals Secret To Woolly Mammoth's Extinction
New chemical evidence extracted from prehistoric tusks suggests that the extinction of the woolly mammoth was likely caused by overhunting in the part of early human civilizations. This adds to the ongoing debate of whether humans actually triggered the disappearance of the giant mammals or if it was caused by climate change.
Dolphin Die-Off Declines As Gulf Of Mexico Recovers From Oil Spill
The National Marine Fisheries Service reports that the mass die-off of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico has dropped this year since it reached its peak between 2010 and 2014. The large-scale deaths of the marine mammals are believed to be caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
UK Charity Saves Life Of Baby Orangutan Left To Die In Cardboard Box
Members of UK-based charitable group International Animal Rescue recovered a baby orangutan which was left to die in a cardboard box in a West Bornean village. The rescuers said the ape, which was given the name Gito, suffered from a skin disease that left him with a lack of hair and gray flaking skin.
How A Giant Coronal Hole In The Sun Affects Everyday Life On Earth
A new image of a massive coronal hole was captured by NASA using its orbital Solar Dynamics Observatory. It is believed that this solar phenomenon is what has been causing the formation of auroras over the Earth for the past several nights.
SpaceX Falcon 9 To Resume Launch Tests In December
Elon Musk's space company SpaceX reports that it will launch commercial satellites for telecommunications firm Orbcomm in December. The scheduled launches will be the first mission for the Falcon 9 rocket following the failed liftoff in June.
Pregnancy Stress Affects Development Of Child's Motor Skills: Study
Scientists in Australia have discovered that stressful events that occur during a mother's pregnancy can impact her child's motor skills development. Children born under such circumstances were shown to have a lower score in their motor competence.
British Archaeologists Discover 3000-Year-Old Swords On Isle Of Coll
Fragments of ancient bronze spearheads and swords were found by archaeologists on the Hebridean island of Coll in Scotland. The scientists believe the weapons can help unlock the secrets of early civilization on the island some 3,000 years ago.
Koalas Need To Be Culled To Save Marsupials From Chlamydia Epidemic, Scientists Say
A recent study conducted by animal experts in Australia suggests that a systematic killing of koalas infected with chlamydia can help stop the spread of the disease to other healthy marsupials. The scientists predict that the animals will be able to recover their numbers in four years.
US Health Systems To Lose $305 Billion Over Five Years Due To Cyberattacks, New Report Says
A new report released by Accenture suggests that healthcare providers in the U.S. will suffer losses of up to $305 billion in the next five years as a result of cyberattacks. The company said breaches in healthcare-provider systems will result in patients falling victim to medical identity theft.
NASA's Cassini Spacecraft Begins Series Of Flybys Of Saturn's Moon Enceladus
Cassini, NASA's spacecraft in the Saturn system, has launched the first of its three scheduled close approaches of the planet's icy moon Enceladus. Agency scientists hope that these series of flybys will provide them with valuable data regarding the habitability of the natural satellite.
How Pebbles On Mars Were Carried By Long-Gone Rivers For Tens Of Miles
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics have discovered that the shape and mass of certain objects can help reveal their natural history. They used this method to uncover new secrets about the presence of water on ancient Mars.
Marine Animals Facing Food Chain Collapse: How Climate Change Affects Oceans
The warming of the Earth's climate is expected to cause the acidification of oceans, with far-reaching repercussions on fish and other marine life that fisheries industries highly depend on. A new study from the University of Adelaide in Australia explores the potential effects of climate change on oceans.
