Zika Kills Cells Crucial to Brain Development; Did Volcanoes Cause Mars to Tilt?
Study: Zika Virus Infects and Kills Fetal Cerebral Cortex Cells This birth defect can cause babies to be born with an unusually small head and inhibited brain development. The scientists, who made their findings based on experiments performed with lab-grown human stem cells, discovered that the Zika virus is attracted to and infects the cells […]
Fast Radio Burst Source Found; High Tech Fishing; Stress and Heart Health
Astronomers Locate Source of a Fast Radio Burst Nearly a decade ago a pair of astronomers were going through some archival data gathered by the 210-foot Parkes radio telescope in Australia when they discovered a mysterious, powerful burst of radio waves that lasted only a few milliseconds. The astronomers determined that these fast radio bursts […]
New Ebola Drugs Possible; New Weather Satellite; Bacteria or Virus?
Ebola Antibodies Could Lead to Effective Vaccines and Therapies According to the Centers for Disease Control, the 2014 West African Ebola Epidemic killed 11,316 people with about 28,638 suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of the deadly disease. The worst outbreak of Ebola in history prompted researchers from around the world to work on developing ways […]
Most Brilliant Supernova; Protein Hunts/Kills Cancer Cells; ETI in Old Star Clusters?
Supernova: 50 Times Brighter than Milky Way Astronomers have been observing a fascinating cosmic event taking place some 3.8 billion light years from Earth. Its the most luminous supernova in the universe. Scientists say that its to be the most powerful supernova ever seen. They say the object at the center of this celestial wonder, […]
Hormone Cuts Sugar Craving; inSight Launch Delayed; Space Telescope Mirrors
Hormone Cuts Sugar Craving in Mice For those of us with an active “sweet tooth”, it can be really difficult to resist sweet treats like candy, cake and cookies. But with diseases and conditions associated with eating sugary foods like diabetes, heart disease and obesity at or near epidemic levels it’s important not to overindulge […]
Coffee Delays Diabetes; Dinosaur Tracks Found; Exiled Exoplanet
Coffee May Prevent Onset of Type 2 Diabetes A new Danish study finds that drinking between three and four cups of coffee a day can reduce the onset of type 2 or early onset diabetes. Researchers from Denmark’s Aarhus University Hospital say two compounds found in coffee, cafestol and caffeic acid, can help prevent diabetes. […]
Earth’s Atmosphere Got Its Oxygen in Periodic Bursts Over a 100 Million Year Period
For about the first 2.1 billion years of Earth’s history, its atmosphere didn’t have enough oxygen to support complex life. Scientists believe that Earth’s first atmosphere,formed after its creation, was probably made up of hydrogen and helium. Then as a result of volcanic eruptions that spewed gases from Earth’s interior, in a process known as […]
New Tool to Find ET; Detecting Spoiled Meat; Usernames Reveal Personality
NASA Working On a New Tool to Search for ET NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California is developing what they’re calling a ‘chemical laptop’ to help search for extraterrestrial life. The battery-powered device is actually a miniature laboratory that’s being equipped to consume and analyze samples in order to detect any material that might […]
NASA Seeks Astronauts; Good Sleep = Good Mood; Device Finds Water in Space
Help Wanted – NASA As NASA continues to prepare to resume human spaceflight launches and readies its ambitious ‘Journey to Mars’, it is putting out its “help wanted” sign. The space agency announced that it will soon begin to accept applications for its next class of astronauts who will fly from the Space Coast of […]
Oxygen Found in Comet’s Atmosphere; Making Robots Walk Like Humans
Scientists Find Oxygen in Comet’s Atmosphere A couple of days ago we told you about the discovery of a boozy comet that dispensed large amounts of alcohol, sugar and other organic compounds as it made its pass by the sun last January. Now, researchers from the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University […]