Articles by Ted Ranosa
Floodplain In Australia Is Home To Megacluster Of 25,000 Tarantulas
A hoard of more than 25,000 venomous spiders descended upon the town of Maningrida in Australia. The eight-legged creatures belong to a newly discovered species of tarantula known as 'diving tarantulas.'
Tiny Organs-On-Chips Could Be Big Solution To End Animal Testing
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have developed new smart microchips that can mimic the functions of organs in the human body. Experts believe this new technology, called organs-on-chips, can serve as an ideal alternative for testing drugs and cosmetics with the use of animal models.
Plant-Inspired Solar Cells Could Store Energy For Weeks
A team of chemists at UCLA have developed a new solar power technology that allows solar cells to collect and store energy for longer periods of time.
Study Says Weaker Sun Could Slow Global Warming In US And Europe
Researchers are reporting that a reduction of heat from the sun could potentially slow rising temperatures in Europe and the United States. The effect on global warming would however be relatively small.
Jamie Oliver Wants To Tax Sugary Drinks Served In Restaurants
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver is charging an additional 10 pence (about 15 cents) on every sugary drink sold in his restaurants as part of his children’s health levy program. The money collected through the sugar tax will be donated to fund better education on healthy eating.
Rodents Living In Islands More Likely To Turn Into Giants: Study
A new study conducted by Duke University biologists suggests that rodents, such as mice, rats and gerbils, living on islands are 17 times more likely to evolve to massive sizes.
Teen Students Win Award For Conceptualizing Condom That Changes Color In Reaction To STDs
A new smart condom designed by student inventors in the United Kingdom warns users about a potential risk for sexually transmitted disease by changing its color depending on the kind of infection.
Researchers Say Lack Of Vitamin D Not The Cause Of Winter Deaths
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the occurrence of heart disease and winter deaths in the United Kingdom, but this assumption is now being challenged by a new study led by University of Dundee researchers.
Lions Included In List Of 23,000 Species Threatened With Extinction
Despite successful efforts to save species, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature says advances are overshadowed by the sharp decline in numbers of a range of species.
Northern Gannets Tracked Using 3G Networks: Seabirds Fly 500 Miles To Find Food
Wildlife experts in the United Kingdom have launched an experimental project called Tag A Gannet (TAG), which aims to monitor the flight path of northern gannets during their fishing trips to the English Channel.
Chilean Island's Ups And Downs Could Help Scientists Learn More About Mega-Earthquakes
A new study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey suggests that two massive earthquakes in Chile were powerful enough to cause the Isla Santa María to rise by 6.5 to 10 feet.
Survey Shows More People Have Health Insurance Due To Affordable Healthcare
Millions of people living in the United States received health insurance last year through the Affordable Care Act, according to the federal government's first official accounting.
Owl-Inspired Technology Might Pave Way For Quieter Wind Turbines And Airplanes
A team of researchers from the United Kingdom and United States developed an owl-inspired coating technology that is capable of significantly reducing the noise produced by wind turbines, allowing them to run at faster speeds and generate more energy.
Another Reason To Drink Red Wine: It Can Help You Lose Weight
Researchers at Washington State University have discovered that the substance resveratrol can help reduce weight by turning excess white fat in the body into active brown ones that are capable of burning calories. The ingredient is present in well-known fruits and berries as well as in red wine.
NASA's Preparation For Europa Exploration On Full Blast: Biggest Hope To Find Alien Life?
NASA has announced on Wednesday that the planning for the Europa project has reached the formulation phase, which means the space agency will push through with the development of the mission design and requirements. Once mission receives its final approval, the launch date of the space probe could be scheduled for the 2020s.
Forget Batman: Giant Walking Bats Roamed Rainforests 16 Million Years Ago
A newly discovered species of bat in New Zealand, known as Mystacina miocenalis, had bone structures that suggest it may have roamed the earth on its four limbs around 16 million years ago.
Fake Fasting Diet Slow Down Aging: Effective For Lab Rats, Effective For Humans?
A new nutritional program, known as Fasting Mimicking Diet, has been shown to have similar benefits to other calorie-reduction plans but with less health risks and without starving individuals. The diet was developed by researchers at the University of Southern California.
Tekmira Stops Testing Ebola Drug In Sierra Leone
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation said that it will discontinue the clinical trial of its experimental Ebola drug known as TKM-Ebola-Guinea after reaching a statistical futility boundary. The company concluded that it is unsure whether the treatment helped anyone during the testing.
NASA's Cassini Spacecraft Snaps Saturn's Moon In Dione Closeup [Images]
NASA has unveiled the latest photographs of one of Saturn's moon, Dione, taken by the agency's Cassini spacecraft as it made its pass 321 miles away from the satellite's surface.
Moon Jellyfish Can Rearrange Limbs When Injured And May Inspire Self-Repairing Robots
A team of scientists at the California Institute of Technology investigated how animals, such as jellyfish, are able to repair damage to their body.
Study Shows Sweet Effects Of Chocolate On Your Heart: Here Are Other Health Benefits Of Chocolates
A new study conducted by researchers in the United Kingdom suggests that eating 3.5 ounces of chocolates a day can help lessen the likelihood of developing heart-related ailments such as stroke, heart attack and heart disease.
Almost 10 Dead Fin Whales Spotted In Alaskan Waters
At least nine carcasses of dead fin whales have been found floating in the water along the coast of Kodiak Island in Alaska since May, according to a report by marine scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
HIV Vaccine That Primes Immune System Almost Ready For Human Trials
A new experimental vaccine based on the eOD-GT8 60mer protein could potentially be the key in developing an effective immunization against the HIV infection, according to new studies conducted in the United States.
Close To 250 People Arrested By Feds For Medicare Fraud
Two hundred forty-three people were indicted for fraud by the Justice Department on Thursday after sending fake billings to Medicare worth $712 million.
Dead Dolphin Spooks Local Residents In New Jersey: Experts Say Baby Dolphin Bitten By Shark
Residents in New Jersey discovered the carcass of a dead bottlenose dolphin on North Wildwood Beach on Saturday. The creature's spine was severed in half and it had large clean bite marks, which officials believe could have been made by sharks.
Starfish Shows Off Strange Ability To Expel Foreign Objects Through Skin
A new study conducted by biology students at the University of Southern Denmark shows how starfish are able to squeeze foreign objects out of their bodies.
The Secret To A Young And Healthy Heart: Researchers Identify Heart Repair Protein
A new study conducted by several institutions in the United States suggests that a protein known as vinculin is responsible for keeping the muscle of the heart pumping even in old age. Scientists believe the protein holds the key to developing treatments that could help repair damages caused by heart failure.
Oldest Bald Eagle In US Dies At Age 38
The oldest banded bald eagle in the United States was killed when it was hit by a motor vehicle on a road in Monroe County, New York. Environmental experts said the eagle was 38 years old based on the USGS band number on its leg.
Our Moon's Cloud Of Dust Slowly Deleting Footprints Of Astronauts
A new study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder reveals the presence of dust clouds on the surface of the moon. Scientists at the university believe these clouds are formed when fragments from a passing comet slam into the moon, causing thousands of moon dust particles to be carried off high above the ground.
Scientists Eyeing New Compound That Could Put An End To Malaria
A new drug developed by scientists at the University of Dundee promises to not only cure people of malaria disease but also prevent its spread to other people, all in a single dose.
